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Already in play-off, Delhi take on Kerala with aim on top spot

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Press Trust of India New Delhi
Last Updated : Dec 02 2015 | 5:13 PM IST
Having already qualified for the play-offs, Delhi Dynamos will take on bottom-placed Kerala Blasters in their penultimate Indian Super League football match, with an aim to top the points table, here tomorrow.
Delhi are now on third spot with 21 points from 12 matches and they will jump to the top of points table if the Roberto Carlos' side defeat Kerala at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
They play their last match on December 6 against FC Goa who are currently on second spot with 22 points with a game in hand. Defending champions Atletico de Kolkata are the current leaders with 23 points with a game in hand.
Kerala, on the other hand, would aim to at least move out of the bottom spot with a victory in their concluding league clash tomorrow as they are already out of contention for a play-offs berth.
Delhi are the only team to have qualified for the play-offs with two matches still in hand. But Carlos said there was still a lot of work to be done and they would definitely aim to take the top spot.
"We will obviously chase the top position. To get to the play-offs was the most important thing. It's a very neutral league and it's important for the players' motivation to finish on top," Carlos said during the pre-match media briefing.
"We spoke about this game. If we think it will be easy, we will lose. That's why I have been talking to them, asking them to take it seriously. Our goals are not achieved as yet," said Carlos.

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"We have seen some great performances from the team but we let ourselves down, conceding poor goals due to lack of concentration. Now it's about pride and playing to our capabilities. We are going out to win the game. Hopefully, we want to get out of the bottom of the table," said Kerala chief coach Terry Phelan.
Kerala lost some close games in the tournament, including the home clash against Delhi where Richard Gadze sneaked in the winner right at the end.
"Delhi are a good team. We lost by a goal in the last few seconds of the game from lack of concentration. They have quality players but we still believe we can get a result. It's not over as yet before anybody starts thinking about going home. We have a game left and hopefully we will get off the bottom," said Phelan.
Assistant coach Trevor Morgan has seen the team enter the final last year and now they are at the bottom of the table. Morgan was clear in his assessment.
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Meanwhile, Liverpool legend Ian Rush will be at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here tomorrow as a celebrity guest for the Delhi Dynamos' home game against Kerala Blasters.
He is coming to India to support Delhi Dynamos.
Delhi Dynamos President Prashant Agarwal said, "It gives me great pleasure to welcome Ian, he has been a friend and a mentor and his presence will be a delight for all the fans attending as well as boost the team's morale."
Ian Rush has enjoyed a glorious career at Liverpool FC having played for them from 1980-1987 and again from 1988-1996. He is also the club's all-time leading goal-scorer, having netted 346 goals in all competitions during his two spells at the club.
At international level he made 73 appearances for the Wales national football team and remains the record goal-scorer for his country with 28 goals between 1980 and 1996.

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First Published: Dec 02 2015 | 5:13 PM IST

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