ISL 2016: Delhi Dynamos 2-0 Kerala Blasters - 5 talking points

#2 Kerala’s defence struggles without Hughes

Hengbart was solid at the back but his teammates did not back him up(Image credits: ISL)

This was the first time that Kerala conceded more than a goal in this edition of the ISL and the absence of marquee player Aaron Hughes played a huge role in it. The team managed by Steve Coppell struggled very much without their captain.

The Northern Ireland man has gone on international duty and Ouzin Ndoye, who replaced him, was not able to fill in the void. Only French defender Cedric Hengbart played up to the standards on the night and was one of Kerala's best players. Rest of the team's defence was shaky throughout the game.

Kerala’s defence is one of the best defences in the league this year, but Friday's performance was nowhere near their best. This only shows how important Hughes is to Coppell's team. The 36-year-old defender won't be available for the Blasters' next game too and Coppell will need to figure out a way to cope with him.