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  Sports   Football  02 Dec 2017  ISL 4: Defensive woes worry Dynamos

ISL 4: Defensive woes worry Dynamos

THE ASIAN AGE.
Published : Dec 2, 2017, 12:56 am IST
Updated : Dec 2, 2017, 12:56 am IST

Delhi began with a 3-2 win at Pune but crashed to a 1-4 defeat away at Bengaluru.

Northeast United FC players at practice in New Delhi on Friday, the eve of their match against Delhi Dynamos.
 Northeast United FC players at practice in New Delhi on Friday, the eve of their match against Delhi Dynamos.

New Delhi: How Delhi Dynamos address their defensive woes will be in focus against NorthEast United FC, in their first home match of Indian Super Legaue 4.

Delhi began with a 3-2 win at Pune but crashed to a 1-4 defeat away at Bengaluru.

Conceding six goals in their first two matches isn’t an ideal start to the tournament and Delhi coach Miguel Angel Portugal admitted as much.

“It’s a problem conceding six goals in two matches. But it’s not just about our defence; rather, it’s about the way we have been defending as a team. I don’t like it. Our philosophy is to press well and we have not been doing that and I’m worried about that,” he said on Friday.

Portugal hoped playing in their home venue might bring about a better performance from the team.

“It’s good to have fans supporting your team through the entire game. But that will be the only advantage we have in the match.

“We’ll have to play the game the same way as we did in the first two matches,” he added.

Delhi have at least won one of their first two matches, something their opponents have failed to do and are yet to score, after drawing goalless against Jamshedpur and losing 0-3 against Kerala Blasters.

Hence, NorthEast coach Joao Carlos Pires de Deus has multiple problems to deal with.

“What I tell my boys is to do the same as we did in the first two games. We created enough opportunities in our two matches. We’ll try to do the same against Delhi Dynamos and hope we get a little bit more lucky,” the Portuguese added.

JFC, ATK in drab draw

Hosts Jamshedpur FC played out their third successive goalless draw of the tournament, holding defending champions ATK in their home clash on Friday.

JFC, who are yet to score in the tournament, are fifth on the table with three points, ahead of the ninth-placed ATK who have two points.

Tags: delhi dynamos, indian super legaue 4