Indian Super League: FC Goa Thrash Delhi Dynamos FC to Storm into Final
An inspired FC Goa came up with their best performance of the season as they eliminated Delhi Dynamos in the second leg of the Indian Super League semifinal at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda.
Producing an inspirational performance, FC Goa demolished Delhi Dynamos 3-0 in the second leg semifinal to breeze into the summit clash of the Indian Super League (ISL) in Goa on Tuesday. (Indian Super League Semis FC Goa vs Delhi Dynamos FC, 2nd Leg Highlights)
En route their entry into the final, FC Goa recorded a better goal aggregate of 3-1 after the two semifinal legs.
Having lost the first leg semifinal in Delhi by a solitary goal, Zico's boys came out all guns blazing against Roberto Carlos's out-of-sorts outfit.
Joffre Mateu (11th minute), Rafael Coelho (27th minute) knocked the stuffing out of Dynamos in the first half while Dudu Omagbemi's opportunistic strike in the 84th minute was like the final nail in the coffin for Robin Singh and Co.
Buoyed by support of around 30,000 people at the Nehru Stadium in Fatorda, FC Goa needed atleast a goal to take the match to the tie-breaker or atleast a clear two-goal lead to win the encounter inside 90 minutes. However they got even one better as their coach Zico was seen jumping in joy.
Goa drew the first blood in the 11th minute when Joffre after receiving a pass from Pronay Halder raced down the wide right, beating left lateral back Robert. With John Arn Riise not in position, he unleashed a left-footer that beat goalkeeper Antonio Doblas to crash into the net.
If that wasn't enough, Delhi's miseries were compounded when Rafael Coelho, who received a loose ball from Bikramjit Singh and then took a scorching right footer from the edge of the box which beat the outstretched hands of Doblas to kiss the far right vertical before entering the net.
With 0-2 down, it was always going to be a catch up game for Delhi but with their main player Giovani Dos Santos not in his element and Robin Singh being not fed with goal bound balls, it was a Herculean task for Delhi.
The end came in the 84th minute through a set-piece movement. A ball was floated from left flank with Doblas completely out of position and the defenders standing in one line at the near past. An unmanned Romeo Fernandes from the far post neatly played a pull-back for Nigerian talisman Dudu to stab home.