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Dynamos, Goa aim for win in last group phase match (Preview)

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New Delhi: Delhi Dynamos will aim to end their group phase commitments on a triumphant note when they face FC Goa in an inconsequential Indian Super League (ISL) football match as both teams have already qualified for the semi-finals.

Dynamos, nevertheless, will have an added initiative after losing their first leg encounter 0-2 at Fatorda. But since the loss, Dynamos have made rapid progress to qualify for the play-offs.

FC Goa and Delhi Dynamos are placed second and third, respectively, on the points table with 22 points each but Goa are ahead with a better goal difference.

The teams will eye the top spot but having already qualified for the semi-finals, the focus will be on preserving their best players for bigger challenges ahead.

“In our way of thinking, we will field the best players available, although a clear picture will emerge only after the (final) training session. Since the tournament is very short, we will want the best players not to get injured ahead of the semi-finals,” FC Goa assistant coach Fernando Vannucci said during the pre-match media briefing here on Saturday.

Vannucci, however, made it clear that the club had achieved its initial target of making it to the play-offs and now the competition would get even tougher.

“We are now looking to be first or second so that we can have the advantage of playing the second game at home. In a tournament like the ISL which is so well balanced, we cannot choose any opponent. Every opponent is good and we respect all of them. You must not forget that last year, the final was played between the third and fourth placed team,” said Vannucci.

Goa will miss the services of Brazilian midfielder Leo Moura who picked up his fourth booking in the last game and remains suspended for the clash.

Dynamos’ player-manager Roberto Carlos has already made it clear that he wants players fresh for the semi-finals.

He rested strikers Robin Singh and Seminlen Doungel after achieving qualification against Kerala Blasters and looks set to continue with the trend.

“Against Goa, probably I won’t play (Florent) Malouda, Chicao, probably won’t use (Adil) Nabi, and I want some players to take a rest for the next phase,” Carlos had said earlier after the game against Blasters.

“Step by step, the team is improving. For the next phase of the league, they will be better because they have spent so much time together. They know each other very well now and that should help them in the next phase,” said the Brazilian on Saturday.

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Sunil Gavaskar gives his opinion of GT allrounder Rahul Tewatia

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The left-handed batsman from Haryana is garnering praise from all quarters for the way he’s finishing games regularly in the most exciting IPL season.

Gavaskar reckons Tewatia’s whirlwind knock in Sharjah (in IPL 2020) where he smashed West Indies pacer Sheldon Cottrell for five sixes in an over, gave him the confidence that he belongs to the big stage.

Speaking on Cricket Live on Star Sports, Gavaskar said, “That assault on Sheldon Cottrell in Sharjah gave him the belief to do the impossible and the confidence that he belongs here. We saw the impossible (he did with the bat) the other day as well. There’s no twitching or touching the pads (which shows a batter’s nervousness) when he bats in the death overs. He just waits for the ball to be delivered and plays his shots. He’s got all the shots in the book, but most importantly his temperament to stay cool in a crisis is brilliant.”

Gavaskar has also nicknamed the 28-year-old cricketer the ‘ice-man’ and lauded Tewatia’s ability to remain unruffled during the tense moments.

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