ISL: Delhi Dynamos play out a 0-0 draw against Atletico de Kolkata
Delhi Dynamos ended their home campaign with a disappointing goalless draw in what was a must win game for the hosts in an encounter which saw the visitors hit the post with Borja’s header. Both the teams had some chances but failed to capitalize. Neither keeper was tested to the limit and it could’ve been anyone’s game till the end. A lacklustre attacking display from both the sides meant that the points were split between the two teams in this big game.
Both the sides made three changes to their respective line-ups from their previous games. Harm van Veldhoven welcomed back the suspended Souvik Chakrabarty in midfield to compliment the services of Adil Khan at right back and Shouvik Ghosh at the left back position while Naoba Singh and Mama sat on the bench. They played a 4-1-2-3 formation with Francis Fernandes deployed as a central striker.
Atletico De Kolkata on the other hand started without the services of Luis Garcia, Mohanraj and Rafi in order to start with Nato, Biswajit Saha and Baljit.
Even first half with chances
The first half started with the home side being fouled in their opponents’s half and a host of long freekicks which did not yield any particularly dangerous situations. Francis Fernandez was brought down in the 8th minute by national team-mate Arnab Mondal near the halfway line after the former was played in by Shouvik Ghosh. This turned out to be the last time in the first half that the Goan was allowed to use his ability to run past players but it cost the defender a yellow card.
8 minutes later, Chakrabarty could’ve put the hosts one up after potentially finishing off a move which was started by the midfielder himself after he won the ball in the middle of the park. Junker’s shot was deflected and fell into the path of the incoming Souvik whose attempt was too close to Edel’s body in what was the easiest chance in the first half.
The visitors were on the ascendancy and had controlled possession in their opponent’s half after only attacking on counters in the opening stages. Shots on target kept Van Hout busy but he wasn’t tested outside his comfort zone. Atletico had sustained pressure around the half an hour mark with a string of corners but their best chance came near the 45th minute mark when Borja smashed the outside of the near post from a difficult angle after Fikru played him in from the right wing.
Both the teams failed to capitalize on their respective chances which meant that the first half ended goalless despite the visitors’ strong hold on midfield. Harm van Veldhoven brought on Shylo from the bench in an attacking move to replace Souvik.
Frustrating second half brought increased tempo, but no goals
Atletico started the second period on an offensive note with Fikru stretching the Delhi Dynamos’ defence to its fullest when he was one-on-one against Anwar who used his upper body strength to push the Ethiopian away from the ball and so prevented an opening in the 46th minute. Ten minutes later, Dos Santos tested Edel who got down in time to keep the Brazillian’s shot out at the near post. The tempo increased as both the teams tried to attack but lacked the cutting edge inside the box.
Borja came close again as his header from inside the box was straight at Van Hout in the 75th minute. It was a similar story to the first half and the only change was the increase in the pace of the game.
Fikru cut a frustrated figure as the match progressed and had his third penalty appeal of the match denied in the 90th minute in a battle which was clearly controlled by Anwar Ali. On a night which all but marked the end of the North Indian outfit’s ambitions of reaching the semi-finals, disappointment was visible on the faces of those involved.