ISL 2017, Match 25: Delhi Dynamos vs FC Goa - 5 Talking points

The weather in Delhi was cold and the Delhi Dynamos went cold too when it mattered as they ended up on the receiving end of a hammering from FC Goa, with the visitors winning 5-1 in the capital.

The Dynamos played better but conspired to make things worse for themselves as Goa took advantage to score five in a game again.

Here's what stood out from the ISL 2017 game:

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#1 It's that man again

When you think about players not having any meaningful touches in a period and still ending up with a goal, chances are Goa's Spanish marksman Coro will come to mind.

The leading goalscorer in this year's ISL continued his remarkable scoring run when he gave Goa the lead in the first minute of stoppage time in the first half, pouncing on an error from Dynamos keeper Sukhadev Patil to prod home from point-blank range.

He really had done nothing of note until then and suddenly there he was, giving his side the lead after having been second-best for much of the game.

That's now 13 shots on goal and 13 shots on target for Coro and eight goals. Just brilliant! However, there was to be no hat-trick for him though as he didn't return in the second half with a possible rib injury.

#2 Dynamos collapse as the half ends

Lanzarote (left) scored Goa's second goal (Image: ISL)

Coro's goal came against the run of play really.

The much-maligned Dynamos actually enjoyed the better of the exchanges in the first half. Goa were struggling to get into their rhythm and the Dynamos played better. Paulo Diaz struck the crossbar too, going very close. The Dynamos created some other good opportunities as well but ended up not converting.

They probably had their minds on the second half already as the first neared its end because that's the only thing that can explain their complete meltdown. It was stoppage time and they conceded a cheap free-kick a little outside their box. Edu Bedia's cross was harmless, but Delhi keeper Sukhdev Patil made a complete hash of it, pushing the ball into the path of Coro and the Spaniard made them pay.

It was a sucker punch that caught them completely off guard, but fully of their own making.

As bad as that was, it got worse a minute later. From the restart, the Dynamos gave the ball away cheaply to Coro, who set up Manuel Lanzarote to put Goa up 2-0.

The Dynamos players were despondent as they trudged back to their lockers at half-time, but they had no one to blame, but themselves.

About that Lanzarote goal though; wow! Just wow! It was an absolute peach of a strike from Lanzarote as he continues to weave magic with that sweet left foot.

#3 Pitch looked decent

The pitch at the venue looked squeaky clean (Image: ISL)

There was much noise ahead of this game from officials from the Dynamos' side as well as those from the stadium about the state of the pitch with complaints being made that a recent event at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi that involved Salman Khan had led to damage of the playing surface.

There were claims of indentations on the field because of the arrangements made for the event. The pitch looked pretty decent though tonight. If indeed there was damage, it certainly wasn't visible during the game.

Props to the ground staff for getting it in shape for the game.

#4 Hat-trick of reds

Delhi manager Miguel Portugal (left) was also sent off (Image: ISL)

There was no hat-trick of hat-tricks for Goa's Coro, but there was a hat-trick of a different kind.

When Dynamos defender Gabriel Cichero was sent off in the 66th minute after he picked up a second yellow, it meant a third consecutive night a red card was given in the ISL. We had FC Pune City's Baljit Sahni sent off on Thursday, TP Rehenesh yesterday for NorthEast and Cichero today for the Dynamos.

Unsurprisingly, all three sides ended up on the losing side. As an added bonus, Dynamos coach Miguel Portugal was also given his marching orders after a hot-tempered tirade at the referee saw him sent to the stands.

#5 The Dynamos are comically poor at the moment

A mistake by the Delhi keeper gave Goa their first goal (Image: ISL)

They gave a good account of themselves in the first half and switched off right at the end as Goa scored two goals in stoppage time at the end of the half. They conceded one and were feeling sorry for themselves which led to their second.

In the second half, just when they looked likely to mount a fightback after Kalu Uche dragged one back for the hosts, Cichero commits a stupid foul to pick up his second yellow and get sent off and just throw away all their momentum.

As if Goa aren't capable enough of scoring themselves, Pritam Kotal then scored an own goal for them to push Goa's lead to 4-1. And Goa were dealing in double delights today as after the gifts in the first half Delhi gifted them another quick goal in succession right off the restart that saw substitute Adrian Colunga get on the score-sheet as well.

To round things off, Manuel Arana scored a fifth for Goa as he followed up to tap in the keeper's parry. Sadly for Delhi, Arana reacted while their defenders stood motionless in a still that pretty much encapsulated this game and their season thus far.

Their coach got himself sent off as well with his protestations to the referee when he had no basis really for debating his defender's sending off. Since their opening game win against Pune, it has all been downhill for the Dynamos and their position at the bottom of the league table is pretty much a fair representation.

Last year, this fixture ended in the same score, but 5-1 to the Dynamos. These two teams have gone in opposite directions since then. What a difference a season makes!