Robin Singh’s late strike denies Mumbai City FC

Robin Singh capitalised on a defensive lapse with the last kick of the game as Delhi Dynamos held Mumbai City FC 1-1 in Hero Indian Super League clash in Delhi on Friday.

Frederic Piquionne had looked like he had scored the all important goal in the 70th minute but Robin Singh, used as a substitute, found the equaliser for Delhi Dynamos in the fourth minute of added time.The draw left Delhi Dynamos with 14 points, the same as leaders FC Goa, but the team coached by Roberto Carlos is placed second with an inferior goal difference. Mumbai City now have 11 points and move to fourth on the ISL table.

Delhi Dynamos manager Roberto Carlos made three changes to his team as he kept himself out and opted to introduce Adil Nabi in the starting eleven. The West Bromwich Albion striker who is on loan to the Delhi franchise was lively at the start and seemed determined to open his account.

Nabi’s first chance came in the sixth minute itself as Hans Mulder’s pass found Souvik Chabraborty who sent it across for Nabi towards the goal but the striker could not get close to it.

Another chance six minutes later did not count as Nabi was caught offside after Florent Malouda had done well to work his way down the left and cross.

Mumbai City were subdued in the first half but impressed in the second. Sony Norde and Sunil Chhetri, star players for the visitors, started combining well and it was only a desperate save from Delhi goalkeeper Toni Doblas that stopped Chhetri from increasing his six-goal tally.

At the other end, a dangerous free kick from the boots of Malouda saw Mumbai goalkeeper Subrata Paul track back and parry the ball on to the crossbar.

Mumbai City took the lead in the 70th minute, all thanks to a brilliant through ball from Selim Benachour. Piquionne got to the end of the ball, beat the onrushing goalkeeper and finished it off from an acute angle.

Delhi pressed more men forward in search of the equalizer but the Mumbai defence seemed determined to walk away with full points. A glancing header from Robin was tipped away to safety by an alert Subrata Paul in the 80th minute.

However, Robin got the equaliser for Delhi in the last seconds to extra time with the Mumbai defence largely to blame. A free kick from Malouda should have been routine clearance but instead the Mumbai defender headed the ball back to Robin who kept his cool to stab the ball home with his left foot.