Delhi come from behind to hold Mumbai in a six-goal thriller
Delhi Dynamos FC played out an enthralling 3-3 draw against Mumbai City FC in front of more than 15,000 fans at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi on Tuesday. Krisztian Vadocz scored a brace in the first half to make it 2-0 for Mumbai at half-time. Richard Gadze pulled one back for the Dynamos six minutes into the second period before Sony Norde restored Mumbai’s two-goal advantage in the 69th minute. A goal from super-sub Badara Badji and a penalty from Marcelinho in the last quarter of the game ensured it ended all square in Hero Indian Super League’s highest scoring game of the season so far.
Delhi registered the game’s first shot on target in the ninth minute through David Addy, who tried his luck from distance. Florent Malouda then picked up a loose ball inside Mumbai’s box five minutes later before shooting wide of the target.
Mumbai’s first chance of note came in the 16th minute. Anwar Ali rose highest in the box and got his header on target but Delhi’s goalkeeper Soram Poirei was perfectly positioned in goal to make the save. Gadze played Marcelinho through on goal shortly after but Sena Ralte managed to apply enough pressure on the Brazilian attacker to prevent him from getting his shot away.
Leo Costa produced a brilliant diagonal ball in the 26th minute to play Ralte through on goal. The marauding full-back shot at goal from an acute angle but Poirei had his near post covered to collect comfortably. Ali had another header on goal for Mumbai moments later but this time he failed to test the keeper as the ball sailed over the crossbar.
The visitors took the lead in the 33rd minute thanks to a defence-splitting pass from Costa that put Vadocz in a one-v-one situation with Poirei. The 31-year-old added the finishing touch to Costa’s pass and made it 1-0 for Mumbai.
Mumbai doubled their lead seven minutes before half-time after a Norde free-kick rattled the crossbar and fell straight to Vadocz. A controlled and composed header by the Romanian into an open net made it 2-0 at the break.
Delhi emerged for the second half with purpose and were rewarded six minutes into the half. Ibrahima Niasse’s pass forward was flicked on by Malouda to put Marcelinho in on goal. The Brazilian attacker squared to Gadze, who powered the ball into the back of the net to reduce the deficit and make it 2-1.
Soon after, Norde danced past two defenders on Delhi’s right flank and cut the ball back to Costa inside the Lions’ box. The Brazilian midfielder though only managed a scuffed shot on goal. Substitute Cafu then nearly scored with his first touch on the pitch in the 67th minute. His effort, however, failed to test Poirei in Delhi’s goal.
Mumbai made the pressure pay in the 69th minute after Cafu played a brilliant one-two with Norde to send the Haitian clear of Delhi’s defence. A first-time finish with his weaker left foot made it 3-1 for Mumbai and gave Norde his first goal of the season.
The Dynamos weren’t prepared to throw in the towel just yet. Substitute Badji came off the bench and made his presence felt immediately after running on to a Gadze pass before slotting the ball beyond Roberto Volpato in Mumbai’s goal to make it 3-2 with 14 minutes to play.
The hosts restored parity in the 82nd minute after Volpato conceded a penalty for a foul on Gadze. Marcelinho stepped up and converted the spot-kick much to the delight of the home faithful. The last big chance of the match went to Mumbai after Matias Defederico ran at the Dynamos defence before striking the frame of the goal.
Match Awards:
Club award: Shared by both clubs
Amul Fittest Player of the Match: Marcelinho
DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Cafu
Maruti Suzuki Swift Moment of the Match: Leo Costa
ISL Emerging Player of the Match: Chinglesana Singh
Hero of the Match: Richard Gadze
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