Zico's side began their campaign on a winning note as they dispatched the Delhi franchise 2-0.
FC Goa began their Indian Super League (ISL) campaign in convincing fashion with a 2-0 win over Delhi Dynamos at the Fatorda Stadium on Sunday evening. An own goal from Souvik Chakraborty (3') opened the scoring before Reinaldo (45'+2') added a second on the stroke of half-time.
FC Goa lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Reinaldo, Mandar Dessai and Romeo Fernandes forming the attacking trident. Delhi Dynamos opted for a lone frontman in Richard Gradzie while Florent Malouda was slotted into the central midfield.
It took less than three minutes for the home side to take the lead. Leo Moura found Romeo Fernandes on the right who easily got past John Riise to get to the byline and find Mandar who slotted it home to send the fans in delirium.
Goa continued to build pressure with Moura dictating the proceedings from the middle. His crossfield passes caught the Dynamos defence napping on more than three occasions.
In one such incident he found Reinaldo in space who cut inside from the right and slammed his shot which was parried away by Ghosh. Romeo tried to volley it in but couldn’t connect as Moura picked up the pieces to see his attempt by cleared by Ghosh and hit the post.
Delhi’s first chance came in the 12th minute when Malouda released Gradzie in an one-on-one situation as Elinton Andrade did well to sweep the ball from his feet.
Malouda got to the byline a couple of times but his cross into the box was wasted as none of his team-mates got to the end of it.
Goa should have doubled their lead in the 24th minute as Moura found Mandar on the right. The Goan winger’s cross saw Reinaldo throw himself on the ground to head it in but failed to connect as Dynamos survived yet again.
Just before the half hour mark, Hans Mulder combined with Gradzie and his shot under pressure from Denson missed the target by a few inches.
Before the end of the half, Dynamos won a few free-kicks and corner-kicks. Malouda’s delivery saw Riise almost nick it in as Goa just about cleared the danger in time.
Deep into the injury time, Jofre was fouled by Vinicius as Moura launched a counter. From the ensuing free-kick by Jofre, Reinaldo added his name on the score-sheet as the ball struck his thigh on its way in with the entire Dynamos defence leaving the Brazilian in ample space.
Roberto Carlos made a couple of changes at the start of the second half as he alongwith Dos Santos made their way in with Hans Mulder and Vinicius being substituted.
Reinaldo could have scored his second of the evening when Jofre found the Brazilian who took a touch to take the ball onto his left foot and open his body up. However, his left-footed attempt aiming for the top corner went wide.
Nine minutes into the second half and Dynamos came close to scoring twice in quick succession. Riise made a run from inside his own half as he exchanged a quick one-two with Malouda. Thereafter, the Norwegian looked to bend the ball into the far post but it struck the bar instead. Gradzie picked up the pieces and crossed for Malouda whose header crashed off the bar.
Just after the hour mark, Jofre and Reinaldo combine with the latter releasing Romeo on the right. Sanjiban Ghosh was alert in goal as he came off his line to clear the danger.
Ghosh was once again called into action in the 74th minute. Moura switched play to find Roy who passed it to Reinaldo as the Brazilian cut inside with ease and slammed his shot which was tipped away for a corner.
At the other end, Gradzie tested Andrade with a peach of a strike but the Brazilian custodian was equal to the task in parrying it away.
Substitute Jonatan Lucca could have scored the third for Goa as he eased his way with the Dynamos players back tracking and saw his attempt being kept out by Ghosh in the 86th minute.
Deep into the injury time, Roberto Carlos’ free-kick saw Andrade collect the ball on the second attempt as Dynamos hopes of making a comeback faded.
Zico’s side deservedly won the game while Carlos will have to find a solution to his team’s defensive vulnerability as they had Sanjiban Ghosh to thank for.
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Carlos: We played a good game and lost
Delhi Dynamos FC’s marquee player-cum-coach Roberto Carlos is not one to regret losses. The legendary Brazilian made his Hero Indian Super League [ISL] debut on Sunday at Fatorda’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and saw his team put up a great fight before losing 2-0 to FC Goa. Delhi Dynamos FC conceded two goals in the first half and that made Carlos bring himself on at the outset of the second and the Lions did improve greatly following his entry but despite putting in a lot of efforts they couldn’t put any in the back of the net.
Speaking to reporters at the post-match conference, Carlos, one of the greatest left backs of all time, praised his team for playing the way they did. “I’m happy with my team’s performance. The two goals were conceded because of our mistakes. We played a good game and lost. Sometimes that’s better than winning in a bad way,” the 42-year-old said.
An own goal by Souvik Chakrabarti and a Reinaldo goal were enough to take FC Goa, last year’s semifinalists, to an impressive win. Zico, coach of the Goan side, praised young Indian prospects Mandar Rao Dessai and Romeo Fernandes for their match-defining role in the midfield. “I’m happy with Mandar and Romeo. They played well in their positions. I try and inspire confidence in my players, and when they know that you have belief in them, they will always perform better,” the Brazilian said.
When asked of what he thought of fellow Brazilian Carlos’ debut in Season 2 of the league, the 62-year-old replied: “Carlos has been a good player and has played in the best leagues. I’m learning everyday as a coach, so over time I expect Carlos to be a great coach too.”
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Chennaiyin FC 2-3 Atletico de Kolkata: Postiga brace fires
defending champions to victory
Postiga's two goals helped Atletico to a win as they began their title defence against Chennaiyin FC.
Reigning champions Atletico de Kolkata managed to begin their title defence with a thrilling 2-3 win away to Chennaiyin FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium on Saturday. A Jeje Lalpekhlua (31') goal was sandwiched between a Helder Postiga brace (13', 70'). Substitute Valdo (76') added a third for the visitors before Elano's penalty (89') pulled one back for Chennaiyin.
The absence of John Mendoza and Bruno Pelissari from the Chennai starting line-up was conspicuous. Coach Marco Materazzi himself was absent from the touchline, serving his one match touchline ban carried over from last season’s semi-final.
Kolkata lined-up with both their star attackers, namely Iain Hume and Helder Postiga taking their place on the pitch.
An attacking move right from the kick-off led to a corner when Elano forced the defender to put the ball out. From the ensuing corner Jeje could only steer his header wide of the goal.
Fikru had a delightful opening from the edge of the Atletico box, but his attempt to curl it in the top corner was off by some distance.
Borja’s free-kick into the box in the 13th minute should have been easy pickings for Edel but the keeper collided with Mailson Alves, leaving Helder Postiga with an easy tap-in to open the scoring.
As Chennaiyin poured forward looking forward for a reply, Fikru beat the offside trap and sprung to a pass by Elano. However, the brilliant move did not quite get the finish it deserved. He was afforded another chance in the 21st minute when he took on the whole Kolkata defence but could not quite manage the finish, again.
Elano almost got himself a goal from a snapshot from about twenty yards which flew wide of Amrinder’s goal.
In the 29th minute, Elano looked up from the left and found Fikru making a darting run inside the box. From a perfectly timed cross, Fikru made good contact but was too close to Amrinder for the ball to go in. However, the rebound fell kindly for Jeje who swept it in from five yards to bring Chennaiyin back on level terms.
With three minutes added time at the end of the first half, a long pass was controlled well by Fikru, who brought it down for Elano. However, the Ethiopian could not get the return pass under control and scuffed his effort.
Fan favourite Bernard Mendy was introduced at half-time for Mailson Alves who was in discomfort in the final few minutes of the opening period.
Hume played Javi Lara in at goal in the 53rd minute,but Potenza was on hand to quell the threat. In the 56th minute, Khabra sent Ralte clear on the left but Jeje could only head the ball wide.
Four minutes later, Mendy went into the book for fouling Postiga to silence a Kolkata attack. From the conceded free-kick Gavilan Martinez came close to scoring, having beaten Edel but not the frame of the goal.
Mendoza was introduced for Fikru in the 63rd minute and the Colombian livewire had a terrific chance from an Elano free-kick but could only shoot straight at Amrinder.
That miss proved costly as Kolkata immediately went up the other end and made it 2-1 in their favour against the run of play. Postiga rounded Edel and slotted the ball away with a calm finish, capitalizing on a mistake by Mendy in the 69th minute. However, the Portuguese injured himself in the process, being stretchered off with Valdo coming on in his place.
Silenced for most of the game, Hume came alive when he sent in a pin-point cross for the substitute Valdo to head home in the 76th minute and double Kolkata’s lead. Chennaiyin’s misery was further compounded when Mendy was adjudged to have handled the ball in the box, resulting in a 78th minute penalty. Lara took the spot-kick, but Edel was up to the task, palming it away from goal.
In the 88th minute, Chennaiyin were given a life-line via a rather fortuitous penalty awarded for a handball against an Atletico defender. Elano stepped up and duly slotted the ball home, halving the deficit.
Chennaiyin failed to muster any last gasp chances and the Postiga brace ensured that Kolkata managed to edge a win in the very first game of this year’s ISL.
TOP SCORERS
| Player | Goals | Apps |
 HÉLDER POSTIGAStrikerAtlético de Kolkata | 2 | 1 |
 J. LALPEKHLUAStrikerChennaiyin FC | 1 | 1 |
 VALDOMidfielderAtlético de Kolkata | 1 | 1 |
 REINALDOStrikerGoa | 1 | 1 |
 ELANOMidfielderChennaiyin FC | 1 | 1 |
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