New Delhi: First-half goals from Adil Nabi, Anas Edathodika and a second-half penalty from John Riise powered hosts Delhi Dynamos FC to a 3-1 win over FC Pune City in match 41 of the Indian Super League season 2 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Thursday.
It was a much-needed win for Roberto Carlos and his men and they finally registered a victory after playing out three draws in their last three home games against Atlectico de Kolkata, NorthEast United FC and Mumbai City FC.
The victory takes them to the second spot above Kolkata and on same points with league leaders FC Goa. The win also made Delhi Dynamos the only team this season to have not lost a game on home soil.
The Lions kept testing the Pune keeper and managed to make their efforts count as they went into the interval with a two-goal advantage. The second half was just like the first as the visitors failed to really test Toni Doblas. Later on, Riise converted a penalty to make it 3-0. The visitors did get a consolation at the end but it was too late to hold any significance.
The hosts started off superbly as they tested Pune custodian Arindam Bhattacharya right from the word go.
In the first fifteen minutes of play, the Dynamos had 3 crosses and 4 shots on the goal. The visitors were looking to slow the tempo down while the home team were trying to pile the pressure on.
Delhi were rewarded for their efforts in 35th minutes thanks to Englishman Adil Nabi. The West Brom striker got on the end of a corner from former France midfielder Florent Malouda to score his first goal for the Dynamos.
Five minutes later, the lead was doubled and once again it was Malouda who provided the goal with a corner from the left side. This time Anas had a free header in the box and the defender made no mistake to hit the ball into the net.
Pune too had their chances with Verhoek, Mutu and Uche troubling the Delhi defence but they failed to convert those opportunities into goals.
The visitors' best opportunity of the first half came in the 43rd minute when Delhi goalkeeper Doblas left his line to make a clearance but his feeble punch saw the ball right onto the feet of Wesley Verhoek. The Dutch midfielder had the chance to lob it into the empty net but failed to get his shot on target.
The home side, who went into the half time with a two-goal cushion, started the second half from where they left before heading into the break.
The first fifteen minutes of the second half saw the home team dominating once again.
Right after the break, Len Doungel beat Pune keeper Arindam with his side footed shot which was blocked by the post and the rebound from Nabi was blocked away.
In the 55th minute, Dynamos players displayed some sleek passing around the box before Malouda tried to get his cross away from the left. However, he failed to get it past the first line of defence.
However, right when it seemed that Delhi were content with their two goals, Pune defender Moirangthem Govin made a clumsy challenge in the box to bring Ralte Adinga down in the 85th minute. The referee straightaway gave Govin a second yellow and a penalty to the home team.
Riise stepped on to take the spot-kick and the former Liverpool left-back made no mistake. He slotted the ball past Arindam who dived to the wrong side to hit the final nail for the home team.
Pune managed to get a consolation goal in the injury time when Adrian Mutu took a free kick from 24 metres. Mutu bend it over the wall and past the outstretched arm of Doblas to find the back of the net.
Dynamos were denied of a clean sheet right at the end but they won't mind as the home team cemented their place in the top-four. The hosts thoroughly deserved this win and the three points after such a dominating display on the night.
Delhi now have one foot into the play-offs while Pune drop to the fourth spot.
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