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In what promises to be a mouthwatering encounter in the crucial phase of the Indian Super League 2016, Delhi Dynamos FC are set to host Kerala Blasters FC tonight for their fourth home game of the campaign. The match will be played at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi and the Lions will be hoping to keep up the winning momentum after their 2-0 win over FC Goa.
Delhi Dynamos have an even record against the cricketing superstar Sachin Tendulkar owned side. Having played five matches against the team which reached the finals in the first season, the Lions have won and lost once, and three matches have ended in a draw. The Lions would be expecting to add some respectability and bragging rights to this rivalry, and would be keen on continuing on the happy habit of winning.
Talking about the opposition team during the pre-match press conference, Gianluca Zambrotta, Head Coach of Delhi Dynamos FC said, “Kerala Blasters is a very good team. They run and fight together and are very strong and compact. This is a very important match for us and we need to focus. This game will be totally different from the Goa match and we are prepared in the best possible manner.”
“The good news is that there are no injury concerns in the team and all the players are currently available for selection for the game”, he added.
Not surprisingly, Zambrotta had words of praise for his star attacker in Marcelinho post match against FC Goa and said, “Marcelinho is very important for us and he has played very well so far and he needed recovery so that was the reason behind not starting him and bringing him on in the second half.”
“I also think Badara Badji and Kean Lewis did well after coming on and I am very happy with the team’s performance,” the coach had added.
Indian defender and Delhi Dynamos regular Anas Edathodika was the man of the match after his goal line clearance and astute defending, before Marcelinho broke the dead-lock. Fifth minute into the match, Edathodika came to the Lions’ rescue through a goal line clearance. Talking about that, the 29-year-old had said, “That is my job and if I will not clear the ball then there is no use of me being a defender and regarding how crucial it was, it always depends on the situation.”
After a resounding victory, Delhi Dynamos sit comfortably at the third position in the league table. The team has won two, drawn four and has lost only one match out of their seven outings. Kerala Blasters FC, on the other hand, are sitting in sixth spot, having played equal number of matches and are just a point behind the hosts. The Steve Coppell side drew its last game in an all-South India derby against Chennaiyin FC 1-1, and have started to play an aggressive, attacking game.
The coach would expect his players to go out and get the three points, to start a run of three home games positively. The Lions play defending champions Chennaiyin FC in the game after the one with Kerala Blasters, and thus, being high on confidence and playing a positive match would give the players a psychological advantage.
