ISL 3: Malouda Magic takes Delhi on top

by Chittu Shetty November 10, 2016

Florent Malouda scores his first goal of ISL journey in three season, as Delhi with the help of two goals and two assists from the Frenchman goes on top of the table annihilating Chennaiyin once again this season.

Malouda scores his first goal in ISL

After defeating defending champions 3-1 away at Chennai in their opening game of ISL 3 campaign, similar story ensued in Delhi as Malouda weaved his magic to open his goal account in the ISL, as the Dynamos defeated Chennaiyin FC 4-1 courtesy of Malouda, Gadze and Kean Lewis strike, while Mendy scored for the latter.

Delhi Dynamos started the same side that earned them victory against Kerala Blasters while for Chennaiyin, Karanjit Singh, Hans Mulder, Davide Succi, Dudu  and Baljit Sahni were back into the starting lineup that drew against Mumbai City FC.

The game started on a cautious note with Delhi suffering an early setback in the form of injury as Konsham Singh had to be stretched off, he was immediately replaced by Lalchawnkima. The first notable strike on goal was taken by Raphael Augusto when his stinging shot from distance was straight at Doblas who collected it calmly.

In the 15^th minute, Malouda pounced on a mistake by Hangal and took a shot on goal which was palmed away by Karanjit Singh but the rebound ball fell to an onrushing Gadze who made no mistake in sending the ball past the off balance keeper.

Ten minutes later, it was Gadze who turned provider as he won a cross from the center of the field and fed the ball towards Malouda who slotted the ball past a fully stretched Keeper at bottom left corner, to register his first ever goal in ISL history.

Two goals down Chennaiyin began attacking with more intensity to get back with Mendy moving forward repeatedly and it paid of. In the 37^th minute, after a quick one two with Raphael, Mendy went on a solo Run in to Delhi box beating couple of defenders before striking the ball past the Delhi custodian to make it 2-1.

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Both the teams went into the break without troubling the score anymore. Trailing by a goal, Chennaiyin replaced Hangal with Jeje.

Second half started with Chennaiyin looking to work on possession but Delhi soon came back in to their groove thanks to the enigmatic Malouda, it first started in the 53^rd minute, when Malouda strike was saved by Karanjit Singh but a minute later it was once again Malouda who after taking the ball in to the box on the left fed the ball for an onrushing Kean Lewis, whose first time shot was good enough to breach the Chennaiyin defence as Delhi went 3-1 up. It was Kean Lewis third goal of the season making him highest Indian goal scorer of the ISL 3.

In the 70^th minute, Chennaiyin had a golden opportunity to pull one back but Jeje, after receiving the ball from Succi, shot over the bar from inside the box. In the 85th minute, confusion between Wadoo and Karanjit led to a corner for Delhi, Marcelinho’s resulting cross found Badji who headed the ball down to Malouda, who leapt just in time to guide the ball into the net.

The game ended at 4-1 with Delhi moving to top spot with the win while Chennaiyin’s failed yet again to take any point from the home of Delhi in three attempts over three season.

Delhi Dynamos 4 (R. Gadze 15′, F. Malouda 25′, 85′, K. Lewis 54′) – 1 Chennaiyin FC (Mendy 37’)