Three Indian Super League teams have kicked off their pre-season games. FC Goa went down to Bangu Atletico Clube 3-1 in Brazil, defending champions Chennaiyin had a winning start against FC ASD Gualdo Casacastalda in Italy, while Delhi Dynamos pulled off a 2-2 draw against Sweden’s BK Hacken.
FC Goa played their first of six matches at coach Zico’s academy, Zico 10. Bangu played quick, attacking football to take a 3-0 lead in the first half.
Zico quickly identified this team’s weakness and changes were made after the break. In the second half, although Bangu kept the control, Goa didn’t go down without fighting, with full back Fulgencio Cardozo scoring a consolation goal for Zico’s side before the full-time whistle.
Siam Hanghal turned up with the goods to give Chennaiyin FC their victory over ASD Gualdo Casacastalda. Hanghal, a two-time I-League winner, only signed with Chennaiyin on a one-year deal last month.
This pre-season fixture against Gualdo Casacastalda, who play in Serie D – the Italian fourth tier, was a repeat of last year’s tie, which the semi-professional home side won.
For Delhi Dynamos, it was the second time in as many years that they had played BK Hacken and it looked like they were heading for another defeat as they found themselves on the back-foot for the majority of the match.
The Swedish side had started well, opening up the scoring in the 3rd minute. Dynamos tried to find the equaliser in the first half but time run out.
BK Hacken made it 2-0 in the 55th minute and with Dynamos switching to damage control mode, they were awarded a penalty which captain Florent Malouda buried into the back of the net.
Malouda continued to create opportunities but it appeared his luck had run out until he scored his second of the match when he rose the highest to head a cross from Amoes Do to send the ball crashing at the back of the nets, to end the game on a draw.
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