Kerala Blasters have scored the least number of goals (13) in the group stages among the semi-finalists. But, that only reveals half the story as Steve Coppell’s side hit their stride only in the final stages of the league.
Having an Italian manager at the helm, the Delhi Dynamos were expected to grind teams down while being solid at the back. It has certainly been the template for Marco Materazzi’s success at Chennaiyin FC.
Materazzi’s 2006 World Cup winning teammate, Gianluca Zambrotta, also started in a similar vein. The success of Zambrotta so far has certainly been identifying the team’s strength very early into the campaign and exploiting its potential.
Going forward, the Dynamos have a star-studded lineup in French veteran Florent Malouda, winger Kean Lewis, and forwards Richard Gadze and Bruno Pelissari. Dynamos’s trump card, though, is the division’s top scorer Marcelinho.
Keeping Marcelinho and Malouda quiet will go a long way in the Blasters earning a positive result in the game. The Brazilian winger is unpredictable and can be a nuisance for any backline with his pace, trickery, and the ability to pop up anywhere across the forward line.
As for the Blasters’ stats making for poor reading, it was because the team took its own time in finding the right combination. The addition of two local players – defender Rino Anto and winger CK Vineeth dramatically changed the side’s fortunes in the business end of the league campaign.
Vineeth has developed an uncanny knack of being in the right place at the right time, and is just as important to the Blasters setup as Marcelinho is to the Dynamos. Vineeth too, enjoys a free role and is given the license of being a roving forward.
The Blasters home form has been top notch and are one of the few teams who enjoyed playing at home. Perhaps, a 60,000-strong crowd bellowing their voices may have just proved to be the tonic the 2014 finalists needed when their campaign was stuttering.
Along with Vineeth, Duckens Nazon and Mohammad Rafi have also been delivering solid performances recently, and have their task cut out against a mighty opponent in defender Anas Edathodika.
The personnel in the centre of the park for both sides have had very little being talked about them. Here, it is the Blasters who have a slight edge with Azrack Mahamat and Mehtab Hossain coordinating well with their defence and shutting out space for opposition attacks down at will. The Dynamos, while overflowing with attacking quality to cause damage in the final third, lack a bit of the industry which the Blasters possess.
The Atletico de Kolkata-Mumbai City FC semi-final proved that there is no guarantee in this league when it comes to results. Who would have thought that both teams would play out an ultra-attacking first half? It was the start that provided the impetus for that high-scoring battle as ATK took the lead inside three minutes.
Zambrotta, too, admitted that it is the start of the game that decides the tempo of the contest, “It all depends after the match starts. They will start strong and we have got to adapt to the situation of the match and if the rhythm of the match is defensive then we must be aware of any opportunity and be smart to utilise it,” the former Juventus and Barcelona man said.
It will be Dynamos’ steel that will face a litmus test in front of an intimidating cauldron.
Match Facts
Venue: Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Kochi
Capacity: 60,000
Time: 7 pm IST
Last meeting: November 4th 2016, Delhi Dynamos 2-0 Kerala Blasters, at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi
Head-to-head: Matches: 6, Kerala wins 1, Delhi wins: 2
Key Battles
Marcelinho vs Sandesh Jhingan
Jhingan, is an all-action defender and can play across the backline. It is uncertain if the Indian international will be deployed as a centre-back or as a full-back. Blasters’ fortunes depend on keeping Marcelinho quiet. The Brazilian makes space and his nimble feet has left many defenders with no answer.
If Marcelinho gets even the slightest bit of space, he will carry the ball and try to have a shot but he will have his task cut out with the Blasters forming a formidable backline through Jhingan, Cedric Hengbart, skipper Aaron Hughes and Anto.
Kervens Belfort vs Souvik Chakraborty
Belfort and Souvik are two players who have slowly grown to become their mainstays of their respective sides. Belfort has pace and power and can bulldoze his way to the by-line all by himself. Souvik on the other hand, is a workhorse for the Dynamos and seldom goes missing from games. This battle is a 50-50 and could go on to change the completion of the scoreline.
Expected line-ups
Kerala Blasters FC: Sandip Nandy; Aaron Hughes, Cedric Hengbart, Sandesh Jhingan, Rino Anto; Azrack Mahamat, Mehtab Hossain; Kervens Belfort, Duckens Nazon, Mohammed Rafi, CK Vineeth
Delhi Dynamos FC: Antonio Doblas Santana; Ruben Gonzalez Rocha, Anas Edathodika, Chinglensana Konsham Singh, Souvik Chakraborty; Milan Singh, Florent Malouda, Bruno Pelissari; Marcelinho, Richard Gadze, Kean Lewis
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