ISL 2017: A strong second half show by Delhi Dynamos as they edged FC Pune City 2-3
IN THE FIRST away travel of the season, Delhi Dynamos came away with maximum points. They ran off to a 3-0 lead before allowing Alfaro and Tebar to pull two back. All five goals coming in the second half.
The first minute was a painful one Jewel Raja who had to be subbed off as he was carrying an injury. Baljit Sahni came on to replace him. As every first game for teams begin, this one too, had a slow start with just a few accurate passes.
It was the away team with the first move as Guyon was about to send in a cross from his wing on the right, Gurtej mad a good block to prevent it. Delhi continued to get in more passing in the opposition half. Sena Ralte was having a free run on the left wing. Around the sixteenth minute mark, his cross was the latest one to be blocked. The miss passes phase continued to go through both teams in the first half. Delhi, after a good amount of possession, almost scored.. an own goal. It was Pratik’s defensive header that was moving towards his own goal and Albino had to dive to his left to make the catch and save. As the game progresses, a lot of fouls continued to happen where the referee decided to keep the cards to himself, leaving the players frustrated.
At the hour mark, Alfaro had a half chance. Emiliano Alfaro cut in from the right in the middle, he took a bit too long to get to the ball as Albino made a dash to come and pick the ball. Mirabaje in the middle of the pitch continued dominate possession and attract fouls. Pune City could not pressurise the away side enough to get closer to the target. Alfaro was involved in a move by the home team as he tried to combine with Lucca but he could not pose a threat owing to his poor touch on the ball on that occasion. The half ended goalless.
The second half was a nightmare for FC Pune City. Goals galore in the second period. Delhi struck in the first minute after the second kick-off. Chhangte the youngster crossed a beautiful ball in the box and Paulinho was there to nod in Delhi’s first. The assister turned scorer in the 54th minute. Chhangte received a pass from his team mate, who stole the ball from under Gurtej’s leg. Chhangte took a couple of heavy touches as found Kamaljit closing him down. But the youngster kept his composure to put it past the incoming keeper for his first goal of the ISL season.
With a two goal lead, Delhi were playing with more confidence. Close to the one hour mark, Kamaljit had to make a good save as Mirabaje’s header was about to find the back of the net. Delhi were not stopping at two goals and they got their third in some style. Mirabaje, on the right wing, took a touch to come on the top of the box, dropped a shoulder and curled the ball to the far top corner to give Delhi a three goal lead.
FC Pune City, who had been chasing the game for the entire second half, suddenly had life back in them as Alfaro took on three defenders and pulled them with him form the right to the left on the D top and swung a low one on the goal, which took a small deflection from the defender to score get Pune on the score sheet.
Things were heating up as Alfaro got involved with Pratik in a tiff. Referee gave both the players a earful and let them go without a card. Kean Lewis came on the field in the last 15 minutes for the home side hoping to make a difference. The last ten minutes were Pune trying to get the ball in the box and Delhi enjoying possession comfortably. But there was more action as FC Pune City pulled another goal back. The goal came as Marcelinho made a good run on the right and set up an easy tap in for Tebar. The former Lions combining to finish the final score at 2-3 to Delhi’s favour. Delhi came off with the maximum points after a convincing win.
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