Dynamos eye another win

After a rather tepid run, Delhi Dynamos have suddenly been on a different wavelength.

The team had spent quite some time at the bottom half of the table but notched up two back-to-back victories to keep themselves in the semifinal contention.

Their resolve will be tested by Atletico de Kolkata (ATK), the most consistent team of the Indian Super League, when they meet at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here on Tuesday.

The hosts are fresh from their 4-1 routing of Mumbai City FC at home with 13 points from 11 matches. A win against Kolkata will bolster their chances of making to the top four. ATK, not too long ago, were at the top of the table but are currently placed second with 17 points from their 11 fixtures.

For Dynamos, it has taken some time to get their combination right. The side has done well despite the absence of their star player Alessandro Del Piero, who has looked far from his best in the league. The likes of Francisco Fernandes and Gustavo dos Santos have been impressive and combined well with striker Mads Junker and playmaker Hans Mulder to put Dynamos on top. Against ATK, a side they held to 1-1 draw in their last meeting, Dynamos would need to stick together as a unit.

“We know how to match them. We have players like Santos and Fernandes. They are fast and can play on the ground. I do know the Atletico are tough and skillful side and at times they could be extremely physical. If it is so, then we are also prepared for it,” Dynamos coach Harm van Veldhoven said.

“They have some great players like Garcia and Fikru. But they won’t be much of a problem if our defence can stick to the plan.”

The ATK, coming from 1-1 deadlock against Pune City, have forward Fikru Teferra and attacking left-winger Luis Garcia as their key players. The two would like to swell the goal tally. With Dynamos having a formidable attack, the ATK backline of Josemi, Nallapan Mohanraj Arnab Mondal and Baljit Sahni would have to be on toes to help their side grab full points.

The ATK coach Antonio Habas said: “We are expecting a tough game again. We are confident that we will score of the limited opportunities that we will get. Our goal difference is still positive and hopefully that will keep improving.”
DH News Service