ISL 2016: Delhi Dynamos FC Thrash Defending Champions
- Ayan Mitra
- Oct 7, 2016
- 3 min read
Gianluca Zambrotta won the the first round of Intra-Italian bout against Marco Materazzi in the Hero Indian Super League season 3. Delhi Dynamos FC kick-started their season by thumping Chennaiyin FC 3-1 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai. Dudu had equalized for Chennaiyin after Marcelinho scored the opener from the spot. Dynamos striker scored his second just before the end of the first half. Badara Badji sealed the thrilling encounter for the visitors in front of 22,000 fans that had gathered for the game.
Delhi Dynamos players celebrate after the second goal. Photo Courtesy: ISL
The battle of the Italian coaches started on in an aggressive fashion. The defending champions had the first shot of the game as Baljit Sahni unleashed a powerful shot forcing Delhi goalkeeper Toni Doblas into a wonderful low save. Minutes later Bernard Mendy headed wide from a Jayesh Rane corner. The Super Machans continued their attacking spree as Jeje Lalpekhlua's shot in the seventh minute was denied by Doblas.
The Lions also responded in the 15th minute through Marcelinho. Duwayne Kerr in Chennai’s goal was also on his toes as he denied Delhi the lead. Minutes after that Doblas made an excellent save to deny Dudu. The Delhi goalkeeper was in a stupendous form as Chennaiyin kept on hurling attacks.
An exquisite long ball fell for Milan Singh on the edge of Chennai’s box. The young Indian showed brilliant control before being brought down in the penalty box by Machans' goalkeeper. Marcelinho sent the keeper the wrong way to score his first from the penalty.
A resurgent Chennaiyin pegged back within just six minutes as Dudu equalized for the hosts. The Nigerian striker made a superb run through the Chennaiyin defence before placing the ball past Doblas.
The Super Machans' fans were still rejoicing after Dudu's equalizer when Marcelinho dazed them with his second. The Brazilian striker converted a delightful assist with a first time effort to make it 2-1 for Delhi.
Dynamos controlled most of the second half but Dudu almost scored the equalizer again in the 61st minute. Doblas had to come out off his line to clear the danger from a cross but his weak effort fell to Dudu. The Chennaiyin striker failed to keep the header on target.
Badji sealed the winner for Delhi. Photo Courtesy: ISL
In the 84th minute Kean Lewis delivered a cross from left flank for substitute Badji. The 25 year old Senegalese made no mistake in heading past the third goal. A hapless Kerr looked on as the scoreline read 3-1 for the Dynamos.
The visitors kept possession and played out the remaining match with calm as Zambrotta was successful in defeating his Italian teammate Materazzi in the first round of battle between the Italian coaches.
“We didn’t play well. I want to congratulate Delhi because they deserved to win. And now it’s my responsibility at least for the next game to show them that we are going to fight. It’s also the responsibilities of the players but mostly mine. And we’ll show that we can fight back,” Materazzi told the reporters after the loss.
“The win has made me happy but we also have to think that we’ve just started the league and from tomorrow we have to think about the future match. I’m happy for tonight but tomorrow we start a new adventure,” said a cautious Zambrotta whose start to ISL could not have gone better. Delhi Dynamos has surely put up the most commanding display of this campaign of the Hero Indian Super League 2016.
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