Half Time Report: The Lions roar in their den to take a 2-0 lead over bewildered FC Pune City
Starting Line-Ups:
Delhi Dynamos FC - Toni Doblas, Souvik Chakraborty, Anas Edathodika, John Arne Riise, Zodingliana Ralte, Vinicius, Florent Malouda, Chicao, Seminlen Doungel, Robin Singh, Adil Nabi
FC Pune City - Arindam Bhattacharya, Govin Singh, Gouramangi Singh, Roger Johnson, Nicky Shorey, Wesley Verhoek, Didier Zokora, Sushanth Mathew, Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Adrian Mutu, Kalu Uche
DELHI DYNAMOS DOMINATED the game throughout the first half to claim a deserved 2-0 lead over FC Pune City through a goal apiece from Adil Nabi and Anas Edathodika.
The home team came in with two changes to the side they fielded against Kolkata in the 1-1 draw; young West Brom loanee Adil Nabi got a start, along with Brazilian medio Vinicius. Gustavo and Hans Mulder made way for them.
FC Pune City, meanwhile, re-introduced Eugeneson Lyngdoh, Gouramangi Singh, Kalu Uche and Wesley Verhoek into the starting line-up; a marked departure from the players Platt put his trust on in the match against Goa that also ended in a draw.
The match started with pressure from the Dynamos. The home side got two early corners, forced Arindam to come off the line a couple of times, and immediately established dominance over possession.
Pune tried to retaliate. Zokora got a shot but it went off target. Kalu Uche wasn't having a good time up front; a good pass saw him get caught offside, then he got a shot but sent it way above the target.
Pune's Roger Johnson got on the referee's book after protesting against what he saw as a dive by Adil Nabi. Slight scuffle ensued that was brought under control.
But Delhi's attacks were relentless. A great through ball to Robin Singh saw his shot bounce of Shorey and go for a corner. The fans got excited when Riise walked up to take a free kick from good range but it turned out to be a bluff; Adil Nabi took it and hit the wall.
A lobbed ball from Vinicius went to Doungel, who invaded the Pune box with only the keeper ahead of him. Arindam ran forward to make a block but he went right down. But an alert Gouramangi Singh managed to catch up to the Bengaluru FC striker and make the clearance.
But the sustained pressure paid off for Delhi. Around the 35th minute, a corner kick from Malouda went to Robin Singh, who directed it towards Adil Nabi who was waiting at goalmouth. Though he was being held back by Govin Singh, Adil managed to get a header on the ball and it went right in. Delhi had finally gotten the break-through.
Pune almost immediately got even. Adrian Mutu got the ball at midfield, ran a few paces and sent a stinging long-ranger towards the goal. Keeper Toni Doblas just about managed to get a hand on it. The deflection saw the ball land inches wide of the far post.
But before long, Delhi had scored again. Once again it came from a Malouda corner kick. The ball reached Anas who was at the rear of the pack in front of the goal. Didier Zokora tried to challenge him but Anas won the header. 2-0 to Roberto's Lions.
Delhi dominated the game in every way throughout the first half. David Platt knew he was in for a tough game; he said before the match that he'd be happy with a draw here. But Delhi have created chances and made them count and now as the teams take a break, they are looking at what might become the first multi-goal victory for Delhi Dynamos this season. A jump to the second spot awaits the Lions, if they can keep things together in the second half.
