Durand Cup 2023: Chennaiyin FC aim to build momentum against Delhi FC

Chennaiyin FC won the previous two Durand Cup games comfortably.

The double-headers on match day 15 of the 132nd Indian Oil Durand Cup on Friday (August 18, 2023), will see Delhi FC take on Group E toppers Chennaiyin FC (CFC) at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati, before two crack Indian Super League (ISL) sides Kerala Blasters and defending champions Bengaluru FC (BFC) face-off in a must-win Southern Derby at Kolkata’s Kishore Bharati Krirangan (KBK).

Delhi need to motivate themselves against in-form Chennaiyin FC

There are two challenges that Delhi FC will have to face in their game against group toppers Chennaiyin FC in Guwahati on Friday. The first of-course will be the form of their opponents who have scored thrice in each of their two games so far and won both with considerable ease.

The second will be the thought that they would make no further progress in the tournament even if they were to win. That is because a win would take Delhi to five points after they drew both their group matches against Hyderabad FC and Nepal’s Tribhuvan Army FC. With the way things are stacking up across the six groups, five points might not be enough for one of the two best second-placed teams to make it through to the quarters.

CFC of course have already qualified by virtue of topping Group E irrespective of the result of their final game. However, if Delhi was looking for any concessions, none would be forthcoming if the Marina Machans’ Aakash Sangwan’s words ahead of the game were to be believed. The former Minerva Academy product said, “I’m very excited for the game. I have played with almost all the players of Delhi FC back in the day. I have a bond with a lot of the players there and I want to prove to them that we are the better team.”

Playing for pride however have thrown up strange results in the past and Delhi would be looking to sign-off from this prestigious tournament with a win.

The Guwahati game kicks-off at 3.00pm Indian Standard Time (IST).

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