Delhi Dynamos FC made their second successive semi-finals of the Hero Indian Super League resorting to some really attacking football that saw them finish the league stage in third position with 21 points from 14 games. With 27 goals, they have been the highest scoring side so far this season. The Lions have really gone from strength to strength and are one of the red-hot favourites to go all the way in Hero ISL 2016. Here indiansuperleague.com looks at the journey of Gianluca Zambrotta’s men to the semi-final, where they will face 2014 runners-up Kerala Blasters FC.Won 3-1 against Chennaiyin FC: Delhi made a strong statement in their opening match of the season in Chennai as they brushed aside the defending champions 3-1. Brazilian striker Marcelinho struck a brace and Senegalese forward Badara Badji chipped in with one goal in what Marco Materazzi considered ‘the worst performance’ from the Super Machans in the history of the league.Drew 0-0 with Kerala Blasters FC: Delhi next travelled to Kochi to play Kerala Blasters FC, who were coming into the match after tasting back-to-back defeats. In front of over 50,000 home fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Zambrotta’s men failed to replicate their performance from the previous game and had to content themselves with one point following a strong defensive performance from the home team.Drew 1-1 with NorthEast United FC: The Lions played their first home game of the season in a charged-up atmosphere created by the presence of a strong contingent from the north-east. In front of over 27,000 spectators in the capital city, Kean Lewis put Delhi into the lead seven minutes before half-time but it took the visitors just six minutes into the second half to put things on level terms through an Emiliano Alfaro strike.Drew 3-3 with Mumbai City FC: Another home game for Delhi and another draw for them. However, the Lions were staring at a defeat when Krisztian Vadocz scored in quick succession to put Alexandre Guimaraes’ men 2-0 up by the 38th minute. Delhi responded to the situation in spectacular manner and Richard Gadze halved the deficit in the 51st minute. Taking advantage of Delhi’s aggressive approach, Sony Norde then restored Mumbai’s two-goal cushion in the 69th minute. It appeared all over bar the shouting for the home team at that time but they showed great character by scoring twice through substitute Badara Badji and Marcelinho in the space of six minutes towards the end to salvage one point from this highly entertaining game.Lost 1-0 to Atlético de Kolkata: After two home games, Delhi again hit the road to play Atlético de Kolkata at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. Marcelinho missed a penalty 15 minutes from time after Henrique Sereno conceded a spot-kick and was sent off for a foul on Richard Gadze. Kolkata went straight up the other end after the Lions’ miss and won a penalty through Sameehg Doutie. Iain Hume made no mistake as he netted the winner, handing Delhi their first defeat of the season.Drew 1-1 with FC Pune City: Very frustrating encounter for the home side in the capital city. They dominated the first half creating a slew of opportunities but failed to convert them. And then came insult to injury as Jesus Tato put the Stallions ahead in first-half stoppage time. Delhi had Milan Singh to thank for his brilliant strike late in the match that spared the hosts’ blushes. For the first time this season, some serious questions were raised over Delhi’s semi-final credentials following the result.Won 2-0 against FC Goa: Delhi went into the match desperate for a win but when the first half yielded no goals at Fatorda, it looked like there was another dissatisfactory outing on the cards for the visitors. However, Marcelinho came on in the second half and inspired his team to a 2-0 win. First, he scored in what to date is one of the best goals of the season in the 72nd minute and then four minutes later set up Richard Gadze for Delhi’s second of the night. The Lions were back in the league.Won 2-0 against Kerala Blasters FC: Hosts Delhi dominated the game from start to finish and thanks to second-half goals from Kean Lewis and Marcelinho in the space of four minutes, Gianluca Zambrotta’s men won without any fuss. With their second win on the bounce, they were well and truly back in semis contention.Won 4-1 against Chennaiyin FC: Delhi improved on their 3-1 scoreline from the earlier fixture in Chennai and ran away to a big win in the capital city. Marquee man Florent Malouda stole the show by scoring two and providing two for the Lions. These were the first goals scored by the Frenchman in the history of the league. Richard Gadze and Kean Lewis were the beneficiaries of Malouda’s assists. Bernard Mendy scored Chennaiyin’s only goal of the match. With the win, Delhi became the first team, and to date the only team, to register three successive wins this season.Drew 2-2 with Atlético de Kolkata: Delhi showed great character in a game where they played the entire second half with 10 men. Iain Hume put Kolkata ahead in the 17th minute and when Badara Badji was given his marching orders at the stroke of half-time, hosts Delhi appeared doomed. However, they didn’t buckle under pressure and got the equaliser through a thunderous strike from Milan Singh 18 minutes into the second half. Their joy was short-lived though as Javi Lara restored Kolkata’s lead nine minutes later. Again, Delhi showed resilience and Malouda scored his third goal of the season to help the Lions get away with one point from the match.Lost 4-3 to FC Pune City: Delhi’s five-match unbeaten run came to an end in what is probably the match of the season so far. Both sides showed great attacking qualities in this end-to-end encounter in Balewadi. Delhi opened the scoring through Kean Lewis in the 44th minute, after which the Stallions just ran amok in front of home fans. A brace from Anibal Rodriguez and a goal from marquee man Mohamed Sissoko soon put Pune 3-1 up. Eduardo Ferreira then scored an own goal to make it 3-2 in the 79th minute. Lenny Rodrigues restored Pune’s two-goal cushion in stoppage time before Malsawmzuala’s strike brought an end to a pulsating encounter, 4-3 in favour of Pune.Won 5-1 against FC Goa: In a big statement of intent in front of home fans, the Lions ran away to a big win. However, it was the Gaurs who scored first through Fulganco Cardozo in the 31st minute. That seemed to spur Delhi on, who went on to hit the back of the net five times in less than 30 minutes after falling behind. Marcelinho took the lead with a hat-trick and Richard Gadze recorded a brace for the Lions.Lost 2-1 to NorthEast United FC: With the 1-1 draw between Atlético de Kolkata and Kerala Blasters FC on the previous evening, Delhi were assured of a semis berth going into this match and complacency showed in their game in Guwahati as they suffered their third loss of the season. Seityasen Singh and Romaric put the Highlanders 2-0 up before Marcelinho bagged the consolation goal in stoppage time, his ninth goal of the season.Drew 0-0 with Mumbai City FC: In what was their last game of the league stage, Gianluca Zambrotta made eight changes to his starting line-up against table-topper Mumbai City FC with many star players given a rest. Delhi’s defence, however, successfully withstood a string of attacks from the opposition team at the Mumbai Football Arena and managed to get away with one point.
