Hopes intact for Dynamos and Kolkata
Delhi Dynamos and Atletico de Kolkata emerged from their encounter at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday with their hopes intact in the Indian Super League.
This was the third goalless draw in seven matches here. Dynamos remain fifth while Kolkata will have to stay put at third for now.
There was much riding on the contest. If Kolkata won, Dynamos would have been left with an uphill task for qualification. In case the contrary occurred, the visitor would have been dragged into the scrap for semifinal spots.
Considering Dynamos needed the three points more, it showed greater intent. The now familiar 4-3-3 setup didn’t change but the full-backs did and so did a midfielder. The defensive capabilities of Souvik Chakraborty were preferred to Shylo Malsawmtluanga. Adil Khan and Shouvik Ghosh were introduced too.
Dynamos enjoyed more possession in the first 20 minutes and Kolkata had trouble adjusting to the opposition’s pace. But the visitor’s 4-1-4-1 setup ensured a compact shape was maintained.
There was a chance for each side, though, with Chakraborthy and Baljit Sahni coming close.
Soon enough, however, Kolkata saw more of the ball and gained control. Manager Antonio Lopez Habas had wanted his team to be the “protagonist.”
His charges assumed the role comfortably. Dynamos tried to win the ball back but it remained mostly with the opposition. When possession was won back, it was quickly returned to the host. Such generosity could have hurt the host but its defence held tight.
It required the interval for Dynamos to break the shackles again. Shylo replaced Chakraborthy. Harm van Veldhoven sought to improve the host’s thrust from midfield.
Gustavo dos Santos accepted the responsibility and grew in prominence on the right. A delightful cross to the far post went waste but minutes later, a shot from 25 yards by the Brazilian brought the best out of Kolkata ‘keeper Apoula Edel.
Habas was forced to replace the injured left-back Biswajit Saha with N. Mohanraj. The change, in no way though, helped Kolkata to shut Dynamos down on the right.
In fact, it was the introduction of Jofre Mateu in Jakub Podany’s place that caused the host problems.
The midfielder could have scored late into the match when he headed Borja’s chipped cross. Sadly for him, the ball crashed into Dynamos’ ‘keeper Kristof van Hout’s legs. Neither side got close to a goal thereafter.
The result: Delhi Dynamos 0 drew with Atletico de Kolkata 0.
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