Delhi Dynamos were not even in the semi-finals of the Indian Super League last year, but their hopes of making it to the ISL playoffs have come true this year. And now, if their good form continues, who knows, we may get to see them in the final of the football tournament for the first time as well.
The Delhi franchisee takes on FC Goa in the second leg of the ISL 2015 semi-final on Tuesday, 15 December, at the JLN Stadium in Fatorda, Goa. Roberto Carlos' side has a 1-0 advantage while going into the match tomorrow.
Robin Singh remained the scorer for Delhi Dynamos in the first clash between the teams, at the national capital on Friday, and that solitary lead from Friday could turn out to be a crucial goal at the end of the two legs.
Getting past FC Goa at their home turf, however, remains a massive challenge. Zico's men finished atop the table after the 56 league games this season, and they lost just one of their three games at home. Overturning the result of the first leg will be the first and the foremost agenda in the minds of the players going into the game.
They will be looking to keep Carlos' side at bay by getting the result for themselves within the 90 minutes of play. If the scores are locked after the stipulated time, the extra time and (or) the penalty shootout comes into effect.
"I won't consider it a loss because it's a game of 180 minutes. We have 90 more minutes," Zico said, after his team's defeat in the first leg. "Of course, Delhi can now play for the other result – a draw. Delhi is very strong at home. We were the first to beat them here this season [in the last game of the league stage].
"We are going to prepare ourselves and try to reverse this. I am never happy with a loss. But this is just the first half of the game. It's like we are going into the second half and Delhi has a one-goal lead."
For Roberto Carlos, who earlier mentioned that this season of the ISL is his first as well as the last one, the goal is set -- making it to the finals this year. "It's going to be very tough at Goa. Our goal is to get to the final and we have to get past a very tough team," the Brazilian left-back said.
FC Goa vs Delhi Dynamos schedule:
TV listings: Star Sports 2/HD 2, Star Sports 3/HD 3 [English feed] (India), Star Gold (UK), US (Fox Sports).
Date: 15 December, 2015.
Time: 7 pm IST.
Venue: JLN Stadium, Fatorda, Goa.
