Durand Cup 2021: Indian Navy Win Against Delhi FC by 2-1
Regimental side,
Indian Navy gave a good account of themselves, playing in their first game of
the 130th Durand Cup at the Mohun Bagan ground in Kolkata on Wednesday,
outplaying second division side Delhi FC 2-1 in the opening game of Group C.
Central defender
Dalraj Singh scored the winner late in the second-half off a towering header
from a flag-kick. Earlier Trinidadian Willis Plaza had put the Delhi side ahead
in the 21st minute of the first-half, only for the Sailormen to equalise
through Shreyas four minutes later. The game was fought on an even keel with
the Navy finishing as the stronger side. The Delhi side had four foreigners,
Brazilian Sergio Barbosa Junior, Nigerian Ekom Philips and Gambian Dawda Cessay
giving Plaza company on the field, but in the end they were of no avail against
a spirited Navy performance.
Prolific
goalscorer in the top divisions of Indian football Willis Deon Plaza of
Trinidad and Tobago scored his first Durand Cup goal and that of the game to
put the Delhi side ahead 21 minutes into the game. He got at the end of a
floating ball inside the box after a very pleasing attacking move by
Reinreithan Shaiza and Dawda Cessay, to drive it past the Navy keeper Bhaskar
Roy.
The Sailormen
however hit back almost immediately when a cross from the right by Nihal
Sudeesh saw Shreyas, who had a fantastic game overall, swoop in between Delhi
defenders inside the six-yard box for a clinical bulging the net finish.The
goal boosted the Navy side no end and coach Abhilash Nair also affected early
changes bringing in Sarabjit Singh for Jijo in midfield.
Willis Plaza
however did have a golden chance to put his team back ahead just before
half-time, but his shot from close range after a lovely through from Brazilian
Barbosa had set him away, was thwarted by keeper Roy. The second-half did not
rise to the competitive levels of the first for most parts before Dalraj
ensured a grand stand finish. Rising above the crowd off a Navy corner in the
86th minute, he blasted a header past a hapless Manvir Singh in the Delhi goal.
Speaking after
the game Dalraj credited their coach Abhilash Nair’s planning ahead of the game
for the result achieved. He said, “The coach used to make us practice these
set-pieces all the time and also told us how to play in short-passes given they
had deep back-four. I think following his plans helped and we got the result.”
Yan Law, the
Delhi FC head coach was understandably disappointed saying, “We have tough
games against ISL sides Bengaluru FC and Kerala Blasters coming up and we need
to definitely improve in all departments if we have to get the results our
way.”
Abhilash Nair on the other hand credited his team saying, “I am
very happy because our boys played to the plan and followed all instructions
which is why we got the result despite losing two players to injury at the last
moment. We will look to to win all games.”