Half Time Report: Mendoza menace mauls the Lions as Chennai take a 3-0 lead
Starting Line-Ups:
Chennaiyin FC - Apoula Edel, Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Bernard Mendy, Mailson Alves, Dhanachandra Singh, Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto, Harmanjot Singh Khabra, Jeje Lalpekhlua, Stiven Mendoza, Bruno Pelissari
Delhi Dynamos FC - Toni Doblas, Adil Nabi, John Arne Riise, Chicao, Zodingliana Ralte, Florent Malouda, Seminlen Doungel, Souvik Chakraborty, Robin Singh, Anas Edathodika, Vinicius
GOLDEN BOOT FRONTRUNNER Stiven Mendoza shine for Chennaiyin FC once again as he scored the first goal, provided the key pass for the second and assisted in the third as the home team took a commanding 3-0 lead over visitors Delhi Dynamos.
Materazzi mostly kept faith in the team that played Kerala Blasters on Saturday, making only one change: Mailson Alves came in to replace Alessandro Potenza. Delhi Dynamos, who were coming off an encouraging win over Pune City himself, went in with an unchanged squad from that game.
The match began with a couple of uneasy moments for the visitors. Doungel gave the ball away easily, then Mendy made an early threatening run. Leading golden boot candidate Stiven Mendoza showed his teeth early and got fouled by Doungel.
Soon the home team was looking way more comfortable on the ball. They were passing around with ease and maneuvred the midfield with swiftness. Chances started coming their way.
Delhi had a good opportunity great through ball from Adil Nabi reached Malouda who let fly but missed the target. It could have been the early breakthrough the Dynamos were looking for; and missing out on it came back to cost them dearly.
Because minutes later, Chennaiyin FC were ahead. It was the hat-trick hero from the previous game striking again with impunity. Jeje sent the ball into the Delhi box, keeper Doblas tried to clear it but the ball reached Mendoza who put a quick finisher on it. The Colombian striker celebrated excessively and got booked, but it was all good. Chennaiyin had found a strong wind on their sail.
Delhi replied with a counter but Edel made a diving save from a Chicao strike. It went out for a corner, but the visitors couldn't make much of it.
And suddenly, Chennai struck again. Mendoza fed Jeje who took the shot, but Doblas blocked it. The ball reached Bruno Pelissari, who was standing just outside the box. He had at three Delhi defenders in front of him, and a narrow diagonal pathway to the goal. He took the shot on first touch, sending the ball like a bullet through that opening, and left all defenders and the keeper stunned as the ball found the net. 2-0.
Chennaiyin kept fishing for more. A pass from Jeje to Raphael saw the Brazilian medio shoot above the bar.
Delhi came back with a Malouda pass to Robin Singh who took the shot but Edel managed to slap it away for a corner.
Robin Singh got up to his wn antics, pushing Thoi Singh to the ground in what should have been a yellow card offense; but the referee did not reach for his card. Soon afterwards, he fell inside the Chennai box and waved for a penalty, but the referee wasn't moved.
And then came the third goal for Chennai. It was a beautiful run by Mendoza into the box, and then he crossed the ball to an onrushing Jeje. The finish was quick and precise, leaving John Arne Riise inches short of getting an interception, and throwing his hands up in despair as the ball went in. The defender's reaction perfectly summed up the half for Delhi Dynamos.
Roberto Carlos will have to pull off something special in the second half if they are to at least get a point here. And Dehi, usually a low scoring team, has never successfully chased down this kind of deficit before. The indications of a shift in strategy are there; Roberto replaced Nabi with Richard Gadze towards the end of the half. But still, a positive outcomes seems light years away for the visitors tonight.
