ISL 2018-19: FC Goa 3-2 Delhi Dynamos FC – 5 Talking Points

#2 Defensive woes for Delhi and Goa continue

Distraught Delhi players after conceding a late goal [Image: ISL]

Delhi should be the second worst team after Pune when it comes to defending. It’s surprising considering they have two fullbacks who are regular for their country. Pritam Kotal and Narayan Das have not done their job properly yet as Delhi conceded goals regularly from the two flanks.

Against a formidable attacking side like Goa, what the Delhi defenders needed to do was to stand in their position and thwart every attack that came in their ways. Martin Crespi and Gianni Zuiverloon were awful to say the least. During the first goal, neither of them marked Boumous nor saw the onrushing Bedia. The Spaniard scored with his first attempt to bemuse Delhi defenders.

Delhi conceded the second goal partly because of goalkeeper Dorronsoro. He kept moving on the left side when the ball was on the right flank and ended up conceding the goal from the first post. Goa’s third goal may have been scored from an offside position, but defenders can’t shrug off their responsibilities as Bedia followed the ball, jumped over others and flicked towards the goal cleverly.

Goa defenders also failed to learn from mistakes against Jamshedpur. They can score more goals than their opponent. But on any tough day, the defenders can let the team down, like they did against Jamshedpur. Goa defenders were allowing Delhi more space to attack. Mandar may have provided two assists but it was due to his constant overlapping that Delhi got some space to attack. Mandar failed to mark Nanda Kumar during the second goal.