Delhi Dynamos narrowly overcome Chennaiyin FC

by Siddharth Yadav October 8, 2015

Brazilian legend Roberto Carlos finally had the last laugh when the Delhiites narrowly overcomes Chennaiyin FC 1-0 after their 2-0 lost against FC Goa at Fatorda Stadium.

This was a must match win for Roberto Carlos side as the pressure is building on from each ends. Although Delhi needs to improve more so as to qualify for play-offs this season following their miserable campaign in the inaugural season of Indian Super League.

Manuele Blasi’s handball earlier in the first half inside the box was the difference between both the sides as Cardoso ‘Chicao’s penalty from the following incident moved Delhiites to 5^th in the Indian Super League Standings.

Roberto Carlos made couple of changes in their line-up as he brought in Anas Edathodika for Anwar Ali and Gustavo Dos Santos replaced Vinicius Ferreira de Souza in left wing.

Whereas Chennaiyin FC’s manager Marco Materazzi made four changes to his side, Bernard Mendy replaced injured Mailson, Manuele Blasi was brought in for Raphael Augusto, Steven Mendoza and Balwant Singh were named as starters in place of Jeje and injured Fikru.

Delhi Dynamos made a high tempo start to the game as compared to Chennaiyin FC. Although it took just six minutes of action for the referee to open the booking card as Delhi’s Adinga was shown yellow card for a bad tackle.

Just minute later, Hans Mulder shot from just inside the box was obstructed by Manuele Blasi’s hand where the referee awarded the host a penalty inside just seven minutes.

Cardoso ‘Chicao’ stepped up and didn’t made any mistake, placing his shot in right bottom corner to open the scoring for Delhi Dynamos.

Three minutes later, ex Inter Milan defender Alessandro Potenza was booked as Referee Tejas Nagvenkar awarded Delhi a free kick just outside the box. Norwegian John Arne Riise stepped up to take the free kick, only to see his free kick getting blocked by the wall, keeping the score 1-0.

Chennaiyin FC’s Brazilian Captain Elano proved to be their important man yet again. Elano dictated Chennai’s attack by playing an integral role just behind the strikers. The Brazilian made some key passes in the final third but Balwant Singh and Mendoza were finding it difficult to get space in Delhi’s box.

John Arne Riise played empathically as he defended superbly for the Dynamos. Steven Mendoza’s thunderbolt left strike was brilliantly headed away by the Ex Liverpool player as both, the management and fans applauding it.

It was a busy night for Referee Tejas Nagvenkar as four players were already booked inside half an hour.

Just moments after half an hour mark, a peach of a through ball was set by their Captain Elano to Steven Mendoza, where his sweetly struck shot rattled the woodwork which could have been an al important equalizer.

Mumbai FC’s Jayesh Rane, who was voted as the fan favourite player of 2015 recently made his way into second half as Sena Ralte was replaced.

On 53^rd minute, Chennaiyin FC’s Balwant Singh missed a golden opportunity where his free header was just wide from target, leaving all the Chennaiyin FC players in vain.

The newly brought in Gustavo dos Santos went down injured with twenty five minutes left, he was replace by Vinicius Ferreira de Souza.

Delhi’s goal scorer Cardoso ‘Chicao’ went close again when his shot was just wide of Chennaiyin FC’s goalkeeper Edel’s post.

With the clock ticking, Chennaiyin FC started to dominate Delhi Dynamos where they had a superior ball possession of 60% for the last fifteen minutes, it was all down to one moment which could change the course of the match.

On 83^rd minute, Pelissari came close to scoring for Chennaiyin FC as his powerful shot was just wide.

In the stoppage time, The Brazilian Bruno Pelissari came close again when he almost scored from a corner, his shot was just above the bar. It was a last piece of action from both the sides as Delhi Dynamos got what they needed the most, an all-important three points which moved them to 5^th in the Indian Super League table.

For his defensive duties, the marquee player of Delhi Dynamos John Arne Riise was awarded the “Hero of the Match” award.