ISL 2015: Robin Singh goal gives Delhi Dynamos 1-0 win over FC Goa in semi-final first leg

Robin Singh celebrates his goal for Delhi Dynamos against FC Goa in the first ISL semi-final (Image courtesy of ISL)

Imagine making a team of footballers walk to the top of the Qutub Minar and then force them to take the field immediately afterwards! Absurd as it sounds, thats precisely what Delhi did when they hosted West Bengal in the final of the Santosh Trophy in 1944. Not surprisingly thus, they managed to get past the fatigued visitors in the match which followed.

Never deemed as a powerhouse in the beautiful game, that remains their only win of repute at the national level.

Today, though, Roberto Carlos and his men took a vital step towards emulating that feat and inch closer to creating history on their own. In what was their last fixture at the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium here, they took a crucial 1-0 lead into the second leg of the tie. More importantly, they got past FC Goa, a franchisee which had got the better of them in each of their previous four fixtures and will try and carry on the momentum in Fatorda.

First Half: Delhi seize advantage through Robin Singh

Both managers tinkered with their starting lineups and induced a host of changes. While Andrade, Roy, Bikramjit, Denson, Mandar and Dudu were replaced by Kattimani, Raju, Narayan, Arnolin, Moura and Sabeeth by Goa, his one-time pupil, Carlos benched Sanjiban, Anwar, Greene, Souvik, Gadze and Vinicius for Doblas, Chicao, Anas, Dos Santos, Mama and Sehnaj in the Delhi line-up.

The hosts started better and created a chance as early as the fourth minute. As Moura’s free-kick was cleared, Dos Santos surged on the counter from the right and even though his initial effort was parried by Narayan Das, Malouda struck a clean left-footer from just outside the box only to see the ball fly just over the bar.

The visitors, who had topped the points table after the group stages soon hit back as Jofre found Sabeeth with a cross from the left flank but the forward could only head it over from four yards out. As the half progressed, Delhi continued to press and they finally went ahead minutes before the breather as local boy Robin Singh headed home off Chicao’s inch-perfect cross from edge of the box.

Second Half: Hosts hold on for slender lead

In an ill-tempered opening to the second half, the Dynamos seemed to be a little flustered. They, however, were the first to create a chance as, around the hour mark, Dos Santos played Nabi in who found Mama on the left whose shot missed the far corner marginally.

Delhi Dynamos coach Roberto Carlos was unhappy with a number of missed chances (Image courtesy of ISL)

Goa then struck back through Rafael who dribbled past Anas only to be thwarted by Antonio Doblas who came off his line to clear the ball. Less than a minute later, Romeo ran past Robert but was intercepted by Riise’s sliding tackle.

As the half progressed, the Dynamos seemed to go on the defensive as Hans Mulder was introduced for Adil Nabi. That, however, couldn't deter Shylo Malsawmtluanga who found Malouda with a searing run. The French international, who hasn't yet scored in the second edition of the ISL, fluffed a seemingly routine chance again.

In the dying minutes of the game, Goa pressed for the equaliser, most prominently through Rafael Luiz and Moura but the resolute Delhi defence held on.

Needless to say, coach Carlos seemed buoyed with the win; he would know though that the margin is extremely thin, for any mistake in four days time can cost them a shot at what could be the city’s first major footballing title in 71 years.