ISL 2016 semi-final: Delhi Dynamos FC 2 (2) - 1(5) Kerala Blasters FC - 5 talking points
Kerala Blasters huffed and puffed their way into the finals of the Indian Super League. The visitors lost 2-1 on the night but won 3-0 on penalties against a spirited Delhi Dynamos, who played the match with 10 men from the 30th minute.
This thus sets up a rematch of the first ISL final which saw Atletico win the inaugural season of the league at the expense of the Blasters. But, this time with the game scheduled at Kochi, this has all the makings of a ripper.
#1 Kadio and Nandy gift Marcelinho early Christmas present
On the night, Kerala’s coach, Steve Coppell decided to field Didier Kadio as a left back. The Ivorian usually plays as a winger and has excelled when doing so. Entrusted with the responsibility of keeping Marcelinho in check, Kadio did well early on. However, as the game progressed, the Delhi winger’s influence kept growing by the second. His efforts bore fruit in the 21st minute as he was gifted a goal. Tebar sent in a floater into the Delhi box.
Keeper, Sandip Nandy, needlessly came out of his area and found himself in no man’s land. Kadio’s subsequent weak clearance fell straight onto Marcelinho’s path, who had an open goal to aim at. Santa Claus wasn’t in town but the league’s top scorer was delighted with his early Christmas gift and hammered the ball into an open net.