Kerala Blasters put up an improved display but had no goals to show for it as they await their first win of the Indian Super League.
A combination of excellent defending from both teams, and a few excellent saves from Delhi Dynamos' keeper Toni Doblas ensured a 0-0 draw at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Blasters looked better on the ball and tested Doblas on a few occasions. The Spanish goalkeeper, once again, came to Dynamos' rescue with crucial saves before he had to walk off the field after a clash with Blasters' defender Sandesh Jhingan.
Kerala, keen to make an impact in front of their 60,000-plus fans in the stadium, created the first opening of the game in the fifth minute. Michael Chopra's lay-up with a header put Mohammaed Rafique through on goal on the right flank but the latter's chip was smartly read by Doblas, who timed his jump to perfection to collect the ball.
Chopra was a lively presence in the first half. From a false nine position, the former Newcastle United and Sunderland striker was bringing Antonio German and Antonio Nazon into the game with quality passes.
The best chance of the half also fell to Chopra, who was through on goal with seconds left for the interval. Doblas' cat-like reflexes denied the Blasters striker as the goalie's outstretched right foot deflected the ball away from goal.
Dynamos seldom threatened in front of goal. Despite possessing superior power on the flanks compared to their opponents, their attackers were bereft of creativity and failed to create clear-cut openings throughout the game. Around the hour mark, Doblas injured himself, clashing with Jhingan while leaping up to punch a ball clear.
Dynamos had an appeal for a penalty turned away when their striker, Badara Badji thought his shirt had been tugged in the box by Blasters' Elhadji N'Doye. Both teams ran out of steam in the final quarter of the game and tempers flared up between both sets of players on more than one occasion as the game crawled to a goalless draw.
Brief score:
Kerala Blasters 0 draw with Delhi Dynamos 0
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