ISL: FC Goa 2-1 Delhi Dynamos – 5 talking points

The encounter between FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos was an enthralling one with the hosts FC Goa coming back from a goal down to rescue a win with a last gasp goal courtesy of their Australian front man Tolgay Ozbey.Delhi Dynamos sat back after taking the lead and there was no incision in the play, FC Goa kept plundering their chances, while there were a lot of exciting talent on show in the game and makes for an interesting set of 5 talking points:

#5 Big injury blows for either side

The game is done and dusted, but it has left both teams in a spot of bother with coaches at either end sweating to review the injury to their key player. While Andre Santos could not move swiftly for FC Goa before being replaced, Delhi Dynamos’ Hans Mulder was seen with a strapped neck and taken off on a stretcher a little late on in the game.

After Pires has failed to find his feet in the ISL, it has been down to Santos to create that spark and if he is out for long, FC Goa might find themselves under serious concerns. Santos has been one of FC Goa’s standout players and adds the ‘Samba’ touch to the side as preached by Zico.Santos can not only play at the left side of defence, on the left wing, in the centre of the park, but can create and score goals and is an important figure in the side.

As for Hans Mulder, he is the connect between the defence and the forward line and does his task to perfection. Hans Mulder had a brilliant last game and was quite good today as well in not only holding the opposition play, but driving and spreading out play for the Delhi Dynamos. It was his pass that laid the foundation for the opener and is the axle in the Dynamos’ wheel.

#4 Youngsters were brilliant

FC Goa inducted as many as four youngsters in the line-up with Jewel Raja, Romeo Fernandes, Mandar Rao Desai and Narayan Das occupying a starting berth. Though some of it was injury forced, other were made out of choice by Zico to add another dimension and play with a lot more heart and legs during the course of the game, which paid of as three of the four combined for the equaliser with Narayan Das sending in a cross, which was headed back into the front of goal by Romeo, which was then headed in by Jewel Raja, who was also named “Hero of the match”.

All the four Mandar, Romeo, Jewel and Narayan were brilliant with their movement and created a number of chances for FC Goa to take initiative in the game. The kick-off was just succeeded by a Narayan Das ball hitting the post, shortly before Mandar ended the ball in the huge hands of Van Hout. Romeo too was instrumental in the game as he made some telling runs and sent in dangerous balls for the strikers to meet.

While Jewel won Hero of the match, Romeo Fernandes won himself the emerging player of the game, but discounting Narayan Das’ effort would be unjust. The young left back was brilliant in both aspects- defending and attacking. While he was astute sprinting back and put in some last ditch tackles, his attacking prowess was for all to see as he sent in some great balls and had a couple of good shots on goal to give FC Goa assertive momentum in the game.

#3 FC Goas maiden win, but need to take their chances

With just a point from three games, FC Goa were reeling at the bottom of the table until the end of the game today where a last gasp goal helped them clinch all three to move up to sixth in the table.

The smile on Zico’s face said it all and the cheer in the crowd was more of being relieved of the frustration of their team ending on the losing side yet again.

Even before and after Delhi Dynamos went ahead in the 7th minute, FC Goa had plenty of chances to put one past Van Hout, but they failed to convert even the most gilt-edged of chances. As it panned out, FC Goa were behind till the 73rd minute and it took a glancing header from Jewel Raja to restore parity.

Having gone all out for the win, Goa were failing to get that finish touch to their game and if it was not for the plaguing gap in the Delhi defence late on, the score might have stayed put and FC Goa would have remained at the bottom of the table.

These are now crucial times in the ISL and FC Goa need to find a way of applying finishing touches to their chances. Though they came out with it today, this is the aspect of their game that has hurt them till now and might in future unless they apply some polish to it.

#2 Almost a substitution that never happened

Just as FC Goa were trying to get their way back into the game, they missed a lot of chances and nothing seemed to be working for them in terms of getting the ball into the back of the net. FC Goa manager Zico was then preparing for a change, looking to bring Jewel Raja off in an attempt to add more legs and experience into the attacking play.

Just moments before the substitution would have been made, Narayan Das sent in a cross from the left, which evaded the forward men in front of the goal, but its way to Romeo Fernandes on the right side of the box, who headed it back into the box, before Jewel Raja made a neat contact with his head to send the ball in the bottom right corner, leaving Van Hout unmoved.

Zico then decided to wait for the substitution and keep it going the same way. When the team failed to nick in a winner till late in the game, Zico asked Mandar Rao Desai to make way for Clifford Miranda, but Jewel Raja stayed in the pitch and emerged as the “Hero of the match”- a metaphor for ‘from rags to riches’.

#1 The absence of Wim Raymaekers

Delhi Dynamos shuffled things at the back with Stijn Houben replacing Wim Raymaekers, while Naoba Singh made way for Adil Khan. The Feyenoord youngster was employed alongside Anwar Ali at the heart of defence, which did not eventually turn out to be the right choice.

Delhi Dynamos had managed just one win in four and were away to Goa in a crucial tie against a line-up that though, hadn’t been able to produce results, but boast of an exciting line-up with talented youngsters.

Delhi missed the leadership of Raymaekers who not only was a wall for them in defence, but also led the lines well and arranged them well. He was also very adept at sensing danger and act in time to thwart it. He alongside Anwar and Kristof Van Hout had done a splendid job which saw Delhi concede only two goals in the tournament so far.

The defence operates in tandem and with the absence of Raymaekers, the understanding and the lack of experience in the defence was visible as FC Goa strikers and midfielders got at the back of the defence.

Wim is an experienced figure and makes you wonder if it was for his presence, Delhi Dynamos might have returned with atleast a point if not more.