ISL: Dynamos ends winless streak with 2-0 defeat of Goa

For FC Goa, the defeat against Delhi Dynamos is its fifth in seven matches this season, including all three at home. It has left coach Zico with a crisis like none other in his three-year career at the club thus far.

Richard Gadze doubles Delhi Dynamos' lead in the 76th minute.

Brazilian Marcelinho ended Delhi Dynamos’ winless five-game run with a goal and an assist as it beat FC Goa 2-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Fatorda here on Sunday.

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For Goa, it was the fifth defeat in seven matches this season, including all three at home. It has left coach Zico with a crisis like none other in his three-year career at the club thus far.

Marcelinho, who came on as a 60th-minute substitute for Bruno Pellissari, helped the visitor bury Goa in a space of four minutes. First, in the 72nd minute, he latched on to a fine clearance by goalie Antonio Santana, rounded defender Sanjay Balamuchu and unleashed a fierce left-footer to beat Subhasish Roy in the goal.

Gadze scores

He then headed back a delightful chip by Florent Malouda from the left onto the path of an unmarked Richard Gadze, who tapped the ball in.

The first half, though, was contested evenly. It was an entertaining battle between Dynamos’ side trying to pass the ball out of the back and the Goa outfit countering it by pressing high up. The first chance of the game came as early as the fourth minute when forward Rafael Coelho’s attempt to chip the goalie almost succeeded before the ball was cleared off the line by the back-rushing Anas Edathodika.

Zico, who had been quite hesitant to play the pair of Romeo Fernandes and Mandar Dessai, started the duo as wingbacks. While it did augment the side’s riches going forward – Mandar was terribly unlucky to see a stunning left footer from more than thirty yards out crash into the post on 25 minutes – the space behind them gave Delhi the chance the stretch the three-man Goan defence.

Gadze threatened in this channel on the right side throughout the first half. The best opportunity to take the lead was perhaps when Malouda released Gadze after Raju Gaikwad’s botched clearance only to see the Ghanaian shoot wide. On the stroke of half-time, he would dodge two defenders too, but his shot nestled nicely in the hands of Subhasish.

After the break, Goa attacked relentlessly but couldn’t convert from a slew of half chances. The players’ shoulders dropped when the referee refused to confirm a penalty appeal for a hand ball by defender Ruben Rocha. It was not late before Marcelinho forced them into submission.