The first of the four crucial matches, excluding the grand finale, in ISL 2015 gets under way on Friday evening, and the national capital remains the venue of the first ISL semi final first leg game. Delhi Dynamos clash swords with FC Goa today, 11 December.
The reports coming in this morning that Roberto Carlos, player-cum-coach, Delhi Dynamos, is leaving after the end of this season, and Zico, coach, FC Goa, also sizing up offers from European and other Asian countries, might come as a mood-dampener ahead of the match.
Nevertheless, the match goes on.
FC Goa go in as slight favourites in the match today, as they lead the league standings this year following the end of 56 matches. Delhi Dynamos stood fourth with 22 points, three below FC Goa.
The fate of the game will be decided over two legs, but Roberto Carlos' men are not waiting for the second leg to make a name for themselves. Delhi Dynamos are looking for a breakthrough in their home leg today. "It's 180 minutes [over two legs]. So tomorrow [in the first leg game] there is no decision," Carlos told reporters on Thursday, 10 December. "That's why we have to perform the way we did in the first half of the last game. I'm sure it's going to be a very nice game. Tomorrow we will do our duty but the decision will be in Goa."
Zico's side made it to the semi finals of the ISL last year also, and the Brazil legend feels it gives FC Goa an edge over Delhi Dynamos. "I just think our players are a little bit more experienced. They will be used to it [having already played the semis last year]," Zico said.
"At the same time, it is also a completely different team as we changed 14-15 players [ahead of the season]. Not only us, Delhi are also a completely different team."
Both Zico and the foreign players from both teams seem a bit disgruntled as the ISL does not have an "away goal rule". Delhi Dynamos lost both their league games against FC Goa this season.
Where to watch the game
The ISL semi final first leg tie between between Delhi Dynamos and FC Goa is scheduled to kick-off on Saturday at 7 pm IST (2:30 pm BST, 9:30 am ET).
Viewers in India can catch the game on Star Sports 2, Star Sports HD2, Star Sports 3,Star Sports HD3, Star Utsav, Star Gold (both Hindi), Asianet Movies (Malayalam), Jaya Max (Tamil), Suvarna TV (Kannada) and Jalsha Movies (Bengali). The live streaming is available on Starsports.com and Hotstar.
Viewers in the UK, South East Asia, Singapore, and Hong Kong can catch the game onStar Gold.
Viewers in Canada can watch the game on CBN and ATN.
Viewers in the US and Australia can tune in to Fox Sports. The live streaming is available on Foxsoccer2Go and Foxtel.
Eurosport remains the destination for the viewers in Europe. The live streaming is available on Eurosport Player.
Audience in the Middle East and North Africa can also catch the ISL game on OSN, with live streaming option on OSN Play.
