MATCH REPORT: Chennaiyin denied top spot after Delhi Dynamos FC equalise late
DELHI DYNAMOS FC held Chennaiyin FC to a 2 – 2 draw in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai on Sunday. Jeje Lalpekhlua struck with a brace, while David Ngaihte’s header and substitute Guyon Fernandez’ last-minute strike ensured that the points were shared.
The home team started on the attack and should have taken the lead in the sixth minute. Rene Mihelic floated in a free-kick from the edge of the box, and Mailson Alves met the ball with a free header which sailed over the crossbar. Three minutes later, Romeo Fernandes weaved his way around the defence and opened up space in front of him to take a shot which was off target.
Chennai kept on attacking, but much to their bemusement, they were hit by the Lions on the counter, completely against the run of play. Nandhakumar Sekar whipped in a delightful ball from the left flank in the 24th minute and Ngaihte put the ball into the back of the net with a superb diving header to give his team the lead.
Three minutes later, Sekar himself fashioned a shot from close range, but with no power on it, a grateful Karanjit Singh gathered the ball. The 37th minute saw Germanpreet Singh lift a ball towards Mihelic. The latter’s first-time volley, however, just fizzed wide of custodian Xabier Iruetaguena’s far post.
The hosts’ much-deserved equaliser came two minutes from half-time. Mihelic put in a lofted ball towards Jeje following a free-kick from almost the half-way line. The Mizo Sniper then struck the ball with a deft header that gave Iruetaguena no chance.
Right on the cusp of half time, Delhi spurned a double-opportunity to regain the lead. Ngaihte’s cross from the left found Romeo in acres of space and the latter’s volley from close range was met by a stunning point-blank save from Karanjit. The follow-up fell kindly for Lallianzuala Chhangte, but his shot was heroically blocked by defender Dhanachandra Singh. That brought an end to an entertaining half as the teams went into the break locked at 1 – 1.The hosts got themselves into the lead just six minutes after the restart. Germanpreet surged into the box and put in a pass for Jeje, who used his first touch to make a lovely turn and curled the ball exquisitely into the top right corner of the goal, to ring in his second.
The Lions then tried their best to push for an equaliser, but the Chennai defence held strong. The 73rd minute saw Guyon heading the ball towards Sekar from Romeo’s corner, but with his back to goal, Sekar missed the ball with an attempted back-heel.
However, they did grab the equaliser in the last minute of regulation time as two of Delhi’s substitutes combined. A deep cross from Jeroen Lumu was headed by Kalu Uche towards Guyon, who stuck out his leg to put the ball into the back of the net. It was the last piece of action from the match as the spoils were shared after a 2 – 2 draw.
A www.indiansuperleague.com report
