Half Time Report: Delhi lead by Gadze goal, NorthEast dominate but denied opening

Starting Line-Ups:

Delhi Dynamos FC - Toni Doblas, Zodingliana, John Arne Riise, Anas Edathodika, Sehnaj Singh, Roberto Carlos, Florent Malouda, Hans Mulder, Richard Gadze, Robin Singh, Francis Fernandes

NorthEast United FC - Rehenesh TP, Yumnam Raju, Carlos Lopez, Cedric Hengbart, Aiborlang Khongjee, Sanju Pradhan, Silas, Andre Bikey, Seityasen Singh, Diomansy Kamara, Francis Dadzie

A BRILLIANT COUNTER led by Malouda and finished by Gadze saw to it that the Delhi Dynamos were 1-0 up at half time as their keeper Toni Doblas denied the visiting NorthEast United a chance to score in spite of being more attacking through the period.

Trouble with the floodlights at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium caused a delay in the kick-off. By the time the match started it was around 7:35 pm and the starting XI of the home team had a big surprise for the fans. 

Marquee player-coach Roberto Carlos had decided to bring himself into the starting line-up to replace Chicao and Sehnaj Singh had replaced Souvik Chakraborty who is out with a suspension. 

NorthEast United made four changes to the side that started in the match against Mumbai City that they lost 5-1. Yumnam Raju, Setyasen Singh, Diomansy Kamara and Francis Dadzie returned to the starting XI to field a much more balanced team against Delhi. 

The match was action-packed from the get go as the multitudes of NEUFC fans incessantly made themselves heard from the stands. 

The visitors started on the offensive as an early chance saw Sanju miss the target. Next minute Malouda ran deep into NEUFC territory but Lopez managed to clear it. 

Dadzie nearly found the target when Seityasen set him up with a well-timed cross. Then the Highlanders had a corner kick, which Sanju delivered to Kamara whose header hit the crossbar. 

Within seconds Silas passed to Yumnam who sent a good cross into the box but Seityasen's header was off target.

Roberto Carlos was having a tough night in the early minutes, clearly struggling to keep up with the runnings. When the Dynamos got a free kick from 35 meters out he stepped up as the whole stadium waited for some of the good old Roberto magic. But the left footed kick came out slow and low and hit the wall.

Meanwhile Robin Singh, who had made a couple of unpleasant fouls earlier in the game, finally got on the referee's book by handling the ball off a Sehnaj throw-in. 

A game of counters ensued, although NEUFC looked to have the more dangerous of chances.

But Delhi keeper Toni Doblas, who had earned the golden gloves armband before kick-off for leading the race to earn the most clean sheets in ISL, stood like a rock to diffuse all the Highlanders' maneuvres. Around the 33 minute mark a good shot from Sanju Pradhan was saved by Toni. The ball ghot back to Pradhan who crossed to Dadzie whose shot was once again saved by Doblas, leaping up from the ground. The ball went to Kamara who shot it wide. Delhi survived.

And then they scored. Off a counter. Florent Malouda sprinted forward with the ball and passed it to Gadze who under pressure from a defender had only time for one touch on the ball and he took that shot perfectly, sending it past Rehenesh. Delhi were up 1-0.

As the first half came to a close another chance befell Roberto who had come up for the counter. He shot the ball way too high. 

And thus it was that Delhi finished the first half with a 1-0 lead even though the attack index showed that NEUFC had clearly been the more aggressive side. But that's not unlike Delhi at all; they have sneaked multiple one goal victories already without dominating the match. Solid defending, a great performance from their goalie and some unlucky/poor finishing from the Highlanders has contributed to their advantageous position after the first period.

But Roberto Carlos should think twice before bringing himself on for the second half. He has had a poor night and does not seem to be up for a 90 minute game. Now that they are ahead, NEUFC will come out all guns blazing to get even; extra emphasis must be put on defending and the player-coach-captain has been their weakest link in that department so far. Cesar Farias's boys might well look to target the legendary Brazilian if he stays on the ground.