ISL 2015: Atletico de Kolkata 0-1 Delhi Dynamos- Five talking points
Gustavo scored the match-winner in the final minute of stoppage timeAtletico de Kolkata extended their losing streak to three games now as they were beaten by a solitary goal against Delhi Dynamos at the Salt Lake Stadium. It was a 93rd-minute goal by Gustavo Dos Santos that turned out to be the match-winner and thus further extending misery on the Kolkata side who now find themselves in the bottom three places.The win takes the side from the capital into second place, level on points with FC Pune City but behind on goal difference. For Antonio Habas and his side, stay sixth, having played six games so far.Dynamos who were down to ten men in the second half continued to pile on the pressure, and in the end it was the tired legs of the home side that gave up against the pace of the Delhi wingers allowing Gustavo to tap in from close range.The game also saw the return of Dynamos's marquee star Roberto Carlos who came on as a second-half substitute, but the Brazilian’s lack of match fitness was evident as he failed to leave a mark on the game.Here we look at the five talking points from the game.
#1 Kolkata missing a potent goal threat upfront
Last season’s champions started the second season of Indian Super League (ISL) with high intensity as they beat Chennaiyin FC, putting three past them away from home. But since the opening day fixture, the side from Kolkata have looked rather bleak in attack registering a mere three goals in the next five games.
While marquee signing Helder Postiga stole the show against Marco Materazzi’s men, his absence since then has seen Habas’s side miss a genuine goal threat upfront with none of Baljit Sahni, Jewel Raja or star signing Iain Hume proving to be of much help against the opposition defenders.
Though the Canadian striker has done turned provider on three occasions in the season so far, Kolkata’s string of missed chances have now seen them give away valuable points against Delhi Dynamos and NorthEast United in the previous game.
Even against ten-men Dynamos, the home side looked rather short of ideas upfront and their lack of creativity and goal scoring opportunities saw the away side capitalise and come up with their own towards the end of the game.
The side garnered eight shots on goal but apart from a couple none really tested Antonio Doblas in the Delhi goal. The midfield too looked short of creativity despite Delhi’s defense giving them numerous chances to attack.