NEW DELHI: Even four days after Diwali, smog continued to haunt the capital city and so was the case at Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, where the
Indian Super League match between Delhi Dynamos and
Kerala Blasters was going on.
With each passing moment, the smog inside the flood-lit stadium ensured that visibility got poorer and poorer and by the end of the second half, even made it difficult to see the other half of the stadium.
"Maybe, it's not a great idea to schedule a game in the week of Diwali. It's not an excuse about our loss. Children did not go to school today," said Kerala Blasters coach Steve Coppell after the game. But the two teams and the passionate fans, majority of whom were supporting Kerala and had assembled here in numbers, seemed least bothered about the smog. "I wasn't bothered by it at all. I am just happy to win," said Delhi Dynamos' Marcelo Pereira.
After playing out a dull first half, where both the teams missed some close chances, Delhi came out all guns blazing and scored two goals in a span of four minutes to move to the top of the table. Goals from Kean Lewis and Marcelo Pereira handed Delhi a 2-0 win over Kerala and helped them secure their first home win of the season and third win overall. Delhi are now placed first with 13 points after eight games, while Kerala maintained their sixth position.
Having won their second consecutive match, Delhi Dynamos manager Gianluca Zambrotta must be a bit more positive about a spot in the semi-finals as his forward line is peaking at the right time.