Delhi Dynamos Football Club created history on Saturday by becoming the first ever Hero Indian Super League team to play against a full-fledged EPL team on their home ground.
In an exciting match, watched by a large contingent of local Asian supporters at the Hawthorns Stadium, Dynamos underlined their preparedness for the upcoming Hero ISL back home by matching West Brom pass by pass and move by move before going down 0-1.
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The Lions showed immense grit and determination while taking on their much-fancied opponent who fielded majority of their first team squad including the likes of Mohamed Sissoko, Maruane Chamakh, Craig Dawson, Jonas Olsson and Rahis Nabi, youngest of the Nabi brothers.
The match also saw the debut of a few players with West Brom’s naming their new recruits Nacer Chadli and Robson-Kanu is the squad, while the Delhi Dynamos second Marquee player Ruben Gonzalez and Samir Nabi made their debut for the Lions.
On the spirited show from his team, Zambrotta said, “It’s been a good pre-season so far and the team has gelled in well. Even though a few players have been with us for a few days, they showed good understanding on the pitch, which puts us in good stead. The team put up a great show particularly the defenders and I am quite satisfied with the performance.”
Prashant Agarwal, President of Delhi Dynamos FC further added, “It has been a historic day for the Indian Super League and Delhi Dynamos, as we are the first team from the league to play against an English Premier League side.
“We have showcased to the world that Indian football is coming of age, our boys kept pace with some of the biggest names in English football and we were hard done by a solitary goal. There is victory in defeat at times and this is one of those times.”
West Bromwich started off well taking the attack right to the Delhi Dynamos from the initial minutes of the match with Kane Wilson coming close to scoring a goal in the ninth minute when he drilled a shot narrowly wide off the post from inside the box.
Riding high on the momentum, the Baggies kept pressing for an early goal and almost scored in the ninth minute, when Matt Phillips shot hit the post. Phillips picked up the ball near the box and curled in a delightful shot to beat the Dynamos’ custodian Toni Doblas, but fortunately for the Lions it rebounded off the far post.
Delhi Dynamos after surviving the early scare slowly started growing into game with the players coming into their element. The Indian side’s first shy at the goal came in the 30th minute when right back Rupert Nongrum, got into a comfortable position inside the box on a cross from the left flank, but unfortunately fired his shot high and wide off the target.
It was a to and fro action for rest of the first half with both the teams trying to conjure moves from the wings, but failing to create anything special in the final third.
Just ahead of the break, Nacer Chadli, making his debut for West Brom had almost scored but for an excellent reflex save from Toni which denied him the opportunity score on his first appearance for the Baggies.
After the change of ends, West Brom launched an early attack with Phillips again at the helm of affairs. He had almost put his name on the scoresheet with a stinging shot only to be blocked by Soram Poirei, who came on a substitute to Toni at the half time. The Baggies started getting into their comfort zone as the match progressed, with their midfielders linking well to create problems for the Delhi Dynamos, but a robust performance from the defenders saw the Hero ISL side stay afloat in the match. West Brom drew first blood in the 64th minute through James Smith, whipping in a wicked pass from Phillips from a close range to break the Dynamos defence.
With Delhi Dynamos down in the match, head coach Gianluca Zambrotta handed Samir Nabi his debut by taking off his captain Florent Malouda. The move brought it instant change of pace for Delhi Dynamos as they started to take the offence to their opponents.
They started pressing hard on the wings with the full backs getting involved more in the attack and they had almost equalized through Kean Lewis hitting the crossbar in the 77th minute.
The sudden change of pace by the Indian side took the host by surprise and they changed their strategy and started defending deep and in number to stop any late scare. They hung on their lead and finally emerged victorious with a solitary goal margin.
On the sidelines of the game, an impressive entertainment line-up ensured a wholesome experience for the spectators. It was hosted by the stunning BBC Asian Network presenter Noreen Khan, performances by award-winning Punjabi singer and music producer Dr Zeus, Zora Randhawa, H Dhami, Shide Boss dance performances by Gabru Panjab De, spectacular DJ set by Anj & Moses Baig of Desi Rascals and dhol performance by King of dhol, godfather of world dhol players King G Mall.
This charity game was the latest initiative cementing an already strong relationship between the Baggies and the Lions. The proceeds from the match will go to charity organizations Albion Foundation, The Nishkam Civic and Sikh Channel Aid.
After the match the team, would now continue their pre season tour by travelling to Sweden, with plans to play matches against the likes of BK Hacken, Assyriska BK and Skene IF.
