Delhi Dynamos' performances on the field have seen marked improvement ever since the second half of their 2-2 draw against Jamshedpur FC. After trailing 1-0 in that fixture, they effected a turnaround and led 2-1 before a defensive error allowed Jamshedpur FC to equalise.
They carried the confidence from that performance into Thursday's game against FC Goa too but ultimately succumbed to a 3-2 loss with Edu Bedia scoring a controversial late winner.
Josep Gombau's team should be given credit for taking the game to FC Goa and on the balance of play, would have deserved three points if they had won.
The team created chances galore against a fragile FC Goa defence which was coming off a 4-1 mauling at the hands of Jamshedpur FC. But their familiar frailties in front of goal thwarted them, as has been the case throughout this season.
Even then, Delhi went 2-1 up at one point and looked good value for a win. They resorted to sitting deep and defending only towards the end of the game when FC Goa forced the issue.
While defence is Goa's soft underbelly, their attack is their strength. In Edu Bedia, Ferran Corominas and Hugo Boumous, they have one of the best attacking units in the league. Sergio Lobera's team always banks on itself to outscore the opponent that is exactly what they did.
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Lobera must also be credited for introducing the fit-again Brandon Fernandes into the game as he went on to make an impact by scoring the equaliser. But the fact is that Lobera was almost given a scare by his good friend and compatriot Gombau.
Delhi's team has rarely fired collectively this season and this was evident once again on Thursday. The attack, despite missing several chances, managed to score two goals but defensive mishaps, when put under pressure by Goa, scuppered them.
Instead of dropping their shoulders, Gombau and team should take heart from this performance against a team who were supposed to run away with a win in this game and take the confidence from it to the next game.
Goa and Lobera will be relieved to have bounced back from the Jamshedpur setback with a win but the way they concede goals will concern Lobera, who for all his insistence on attacking football, will know that when you approach the business end of the season, a leaky defence is a big risk.
