Delhi Dynamos FC had made some crucial signings ahead of the second season of the Hero Indian Super League and they played a big part in making the Lions the second team to qualify for the semis. Under former Brazil defender Roberto Carlos, Delhi put a lot of stress on defence and for the most part of the league stage they had been the meanest defence. However, it would be wrong to say that only their defence did the job as the Lions also dominated in midfield thanks largely to the presence of former France international Florent Malouda who all through the league stage provided one assist after another. After starting their campaign with a 2-0 away loss to FC Goa, Carlos’ men pulled their socks up and registered three successive wins. They also registered three successive draws at home at one stage of the league. The only team to have got the better of the Lions in their both home and away games was FC Goa who in the last game of the league stage also ended Delhi’s unbeaten home run. Interestingly, it will be Delhi vs Goa again in the semis. Let’s take a look at Delhi’s journey to the semis.Vs FC Goa on October 4: Delhi Dynamos FC travelled to Fatorda and came away with disappointment following a 2-0 loss at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Mandar Rao Dessai and Reinaldo scored for the home side as the Lions posed no threat to Zico’s men.Vs Chennaiyin FC on October 8: Delhi moved on from the disappointment against Goa with a 1-0 win in New Delhi in front of their home fans. Chicao’s goal from the spot was enough for the Lions to get the better of Marco Materazzi’s men. The win definitely instilled some confidence in Roberto Carlos’ men.Vs FC Pune City on October 14: Delhi travelled again following the Goa loss. This time to Pune and saw themselves on the positive side of a result. Goals by strikers Robin Singh and Richard Gadze helped the Lions maintain their winning form. A late strike by Kalu Uche helped pull one back for Pune as the match ended in a 2-1 scoreline favouring the visitors.Vs Kerala Blasters FC on October 18: This match marked yet another away win for Roberto Carlos’ brigade as they defeated the Blasters 1-0 in Kochi. Richard Gadze’s strike came towards the end of the match and helped the Lions register their third successive win.Vs Mumbai City FC on October 21: Delhi’s juggernaut was halted by Nicolas Anelka’s men at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai. A double by ‘Mumbai Express’ Sunil Chhetri helped the home team register a 2-0 win. For the second time in the season, Delhi had been completely outplayed by their rivals as their three-match winning streak came to an end.Vs Atlético de Kolkata on October 29: Delhi Dynamos FC bounced back in nice fashion as they registered a 1-0 win against the defending champions at the Salt Lake Stadium. Yet another late goal helped the Lions seal the win. This time, the chief perpetrator was Brazilian young gun Gustavo dos Santos.Vs NorthEast United FC on November 3: Delhi featured in a well-contested tie as they hosted the Highlanders after playing four successive away matches. Solitary efforts by Delhi’s Richard Gadze and NEUFC’s marquee signing Simao helped both teams share the points. This marked the first draw of the season for the Lions.Vs Mumbai City FC on November 6: Draw number two followed for Delhi as they played host to Mumbai City FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Frederic Piquionne’s 70th minute-strike was cancelled out by Robin Singh’s injury-time strike as the match ended in a 1-1 draw.Vs Atlético de Kolkata on November 14: Third successive draw at home for Roberto Carlos’ men. Iain Hume’s strike in the first half was cancelled out by Ricard Gadze’s strike in the second half. These three draws brought plenty of criticism for the Lions for their overly defensive approach in home games.Vs FC Pune City on November 19: Delhi responded to those criticism in spectacular fashion as they ended their draw streak at home with a 3-1 victory against FC Pune City. Pune coach David Platt saw his men caught off guard as Delhi scored in both halves through Adil Nabi, Anas Edathodika and John Arne Riise. Adrian Mutu got the consolation goal for Pune late into the match.Vs Chennaiyin FC on November 24: Delhi resumed another away leg on a disappointing note as the Super Machans drubbed them 4-0 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Delhi looked completely off-colour and a goal each from Stiven Mendoza, Bruno Pelissari and a double from Jeje Lalpekhlua handed them their biggest loss of the Hero ISL.Vs NorthEast United FC on November 28: The Dynamos brought their away form back on track with a 2-1 win at the Indira Gandhi Stadium in Guwahati. The win, fuelled by Robin Singh and Gustavo dos Santos goals, also sealed them a place in the semi-finals.Vs Kerala Blasters FC on December 3: In a tightly-contested tie at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi, both teams scored thrice each to put fans in a frenzy. Gustavo dos Santos, Adil Nabi and Sehnaj Singh fired home goals for the hosts, while Chris Dagnall, Joao Coimbra and Antonio German put up a solid front for Kerala. Sehnaj’s strike from almost 35 yards out in the dying moments helped the Lions earn a point.Vs FC Goa on December 6: In what was the last game of the league stage, Delhi suffered their first home defeat. They went into the break leading 2-0 through goals from Serginho Greene and Adil Nabi. Goa, however, staged a brilliant comeback in the second half and through two goals from Romeo Fernandes and one from Joffre upstaged the home team.
