കഴിഞ്ഞ സീസണിൽ എവിടെ വെച്ച് നിറുത്തിയോ അവിടെ നിന്ന് പൂർവാധികം ശക്തിയോടെ വീണ്ടും ഗോൾ അടിച്ചു കൂട്ടാൻ മുത്ത് വരുന്നു.

#അന്റോണിയോ_ജർമൻ

#മഞ്ഞപ്പട 

Confident Delhi plays Kerala in kochi

KOCHI: High on confidence after their back-to-back victories, Delhi Dynamos take on Kerala Blasters in their second consecutive away match in the Indian Super League football here tomorrow.    

After succumbing to FC Goa in their campaign opener, Delhi grabbed two victories in a row against Chennaiyin FC and FC Pune City.     

But, the visiting side, coached by Brazilian World Cup winner Roberto Carlos, will have a tough job tomorrow against a Kerala side that has been strengthened by the return of their marquee player Carlos Marchena from injury.    The Blasters, co-owned by Sachin Tendulkar, will also be boosted by the return of Indian center back Sandhesh Jhingan and his national team-mate Cavin Lobo.     

Delhi will also get the services of their three India players in midfielders Francis Fernandes, Sehnaj Singh and striker Robin Singh as they have come back from national duty in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.    

Carlos said his boys will not be intimidated while playing in front of 60,000 supporters cheering for their opponents at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium tomorrow.     

"The majority of my players know what to expect when you play here. I've spoken to all my players and they know it will be tough with so many supporters helping Kerala. But if we are focused and motivated, we can get the better of them," he said at the pre-match press conference.    

"As a player, I used to love playing at a packed stadium. I would run on to the pitch like crazy to win the game. So my players, too, will enjoy in front of 60,000 people. They need to go out there and have fun," he added.    

Carlos played the opener against FC Goa, which his side lost 0-2, for 45 minutes and has not made an appearance again. He remained non-committal about his playing role tomorrow as well.     

"In the last two games, there was no need for me. I will play if needed," said the 2002 World Cup winner Brazilian.

Kerala started their campaign with a thumping 3-1 win over NorthEast United FC and then split points with Mumbai City FC before losing to reigning champions Atletico de Kolkata.    

Coach Peter Taylor said that Delhi have a very good team but his side would be equal to the task.     

"Delhi Dynamos have made some very good signings. They have a fantastic head coach in Roberto Carlos. I've seen some players during their time in England; (John) Riise and (Florent) Malouda are very good players. It's a big test for us. Certainly we respect Delhi, they have a good squad but we have to make sure that when we enter the field, we show what we are capable of," said Taylor.     

Asked about the return of India players Jhingan and Lobo from national duty, Taylor said, "I'm very happy to have them back, especially injury-free after national team duties.

I know Sandesh had a wonderful last season and I'm expecting him to repeat it this season.     

"The same goes for Calvin, we had a few friendlies before he flew for international duties and he was playing well. I was disappointed to lose him for three matches. But now they're back and I want them to play as well as they can," said the Englishman.    

In another good news for the team, Kerala's marquee player Carlos Marchena is also set to play his first game this season tomorrow after missing out on previous matches on account of injury.     

Taylor confirmed his participation.     

"He (Marchena) is set to feature in this match, it just a question of whether to feature him in the first eleven or as a substitute. He's been training with us and he can play a half," Taylor said.    

"I know that he can play central in our back four or three, he's a very good passer of the ball and I just want to make sure that I send him in at the right time," said the home team coach.

#yellowmeinkhelo

Do we do it again guys?

ഇന്ത്യൻ ഫുട്ബോൾ പ്രേമികളെ വിസ്മയിപ്പിക്കാൻ പതിവുപോലെ ഇന്നും മഞ്ഞപ്പട ഗാല്ലറിയിലേക്ക്‌ ഇടിച്ചു കയറും.., ഈ വർഷം ഇതുവരെ കണ്ടതിൽ വച്ച്‌ ഏറ്റവും വലിയ ജനക്കൂട്ടമായിരിക്കും ഇന്ന് കൊച്ചിയിൽ കളി കാണാനെത്തുക. എഴുപത്‌ ശതമാനത്തിലധികം ടിക്കറ്റുകൾ വിറ്റ്‌ തീർന്നതായാണ്‌ വിവരം. സ്റ്റേഡിയത്തിൽ പോയി ടിക്കറ്റ്‌ എടുക്കുന്നവർ പെട്ടന്ന് തന്നെ എടുക്കുക.

#historymakers

CATCH LIVE UPDATES ON KERALA BLASTERS FC VS DELHI DYNAMOS KERALA BLASTERS MEETS DELHI DYNAMOS TODAY ON KOCHI. BLASTERS SEEMS TO HAVE PLAYED BADLY THIS SEASON AS THEY HAD WON ONLY 1 IN 3.WHILE DELHI DYNAMOS LOOK EVEN STRONG AS THEY HAD WON 2 OUT OF 3.
BUT KERALA CAN ACHIEVE A WIN AFTER THEIR STARS JHINGAN AND MARCHENA HAD RETURNED TO THEIR TEAM. MEAN WHILE MARCHENA WAS INJURED WHILE JHINGAN WAS WITH INDIAN WC QUALIFIER TEAM.THEIR RETURNS WILL MAKE THEM STRONGER THAN AS THEY BEFORE.
THE COCHIN JAWAHARLAL NEHRU STADIUM IS LOOKS TO BE IN #YELLOWMEINKHELO TODAY AS THEY EXPECT A RECORD ATTENDENCE
#YELLOWMEINKHELO

KERALA BLASTERS FC VS MUMBAI CITY FC 0-0

ISL,Kerala Blasters vs Mumbai City:As it happened

Hello and welcome to the updates from Match 8 of the Indian Super League between Kerala Blasters FC vs Mumbai City FC at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Kochi.

Updates:

Full-time: Kerala Blaster FC and Mumbai City FC play out a goalless draw. Mumbai would be disappointed not to get at least two spot kicks. 

67' Neither of the teams have been lucky to find the net, Gabriel Fernandez being stretchered off. 

Half-time: No goals scored but Mumbai City FC will definitely be upset on missing out on the spot kick in the dying minutes of the first half. Stay tuned for the second half action. 

Players lined up for the national anthem and the stadium is a sea of yellow. Kick-off time... 

Mumbai City FC Starting XI: Debjit Majumder (GK), Aitor, Pavel Cmovs, Frantz Bertin (C), Darren O'Dea, Gabriel, Pratesh Shirodkar, Cristian Bustos, Thangjam Saran Singh, Singam Subhash, Sony Norde

Kerala Blasters Starting XI: Stephen Bywater (GK), Rahul Bheke, Peter Ramage (C), Bruno Perone, Gurwinder, C.K. Vineeth, Mehtab Hossain, Pulga, Marcus Williams, Chris Dagnall, Manandeep 

Preview: With home team Kerala Blasters FC getting their campaign in the second season of the Indian Super League (ISL) off to a rousing start with a victory over North East United FC earlier this week, their next opponents Mumbai City FC will be determined to get back to winning ways.

Looking back on the performances of both teams in their opening outings, Mumbai - led by French star Nicholas Anelka - appeared to be unlucky as they enjoyed 54 percent of the ball possession and had more shots on goal, but still lost 1-3 to FC Pune City.

Mumbai arrived here late on Thursday evening and as always in sports loving Kerala, the team was received well by the people who crowded the airport and team hotel to cheer them. The hosts' biggest advantage is that the football loving Keralites are always fully behind them. The stands are usually overflowing, with a record 60,000 fans attending their opening match of the season.

Their foreign recruit Josu Currias appeared to be at his best and so were local boys Mohammed Rafi, Peter Carvalho, Sanchez Watt. Even with no big names, Kerala did well overall and after some initial hiccups, they were able to combine well to romp home to a 3-1 win.

Blasters coach Peter Taylor is wary of how effectively his side would be able to contain Anelka. Taylor has seen Anelka firing on all cylinders back in England, when the former French striker appeared for six leading English clubs including Arsenal, Chelsea, and Manchester City.

But with rains beating down on this coastal city over the past two days and more rain predicted in the coming days, fans will have to keep their fingers crossed as a wet outfield would certainly hamper free flowing soccer.