ISL: Delhi holds Chennaiyin to a 1-1 draw

Chennaiyin FC managed to keep its playoff hopes alive via a late equaliser in the Indian Super League.

Published : Feb 11, 2018 22:58 IST , New Delhi

Kalu Uche and Paulinho Dias celebrate Delhi Dynamos' goal. Photo: ISL/Sportzpics
Kalu Uche and Paulinho Dias celebrate Delhi Dynamos' goal. Photo: ISL/Sportzpics
lightbox-info

Kalu Uche and Paulinho Dias celebrate Delhi Dynamos' goal. Photo: ISL/Sportzpics

Bottom-placed Delhi Dynamos let slip a one-goal advantage to share the spoils with visiting Chennaiyin FC in their Indian Super League (ISL) match here on Sunday.

Kalu Uche put the home team ahead with a 59th minute strike from the spot. Looking to consolidate its position in the top four, Chennaiyin FC equalised through Mailson Alves’s header following a set-piece in the 81st minute. A charging Xavier, who had a good game till then, tried to punch it away but left the net empty.

Match Centre

While the result doesn’t hold much significance for the embattled host, Chennaiyin would have liked to go home with full three points.

Late equaliser

Chennaiyin, though, managed to keep its playoffs hopes alive despite conceding first at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. They could perhaps thank its central defender for finding the equaliser and securing a point in the dying moments of the game.

Read: Pune City defeats misfiring Mumbai City

Delhi coach Miguel Angel Portugal made three changes to the starting XI. The injured Pritam Kotal was replaced by Dayananda Moirangtem while Mohammad Dhot came in for the suspended Pratik Choudhary in central defence. Vinit Rai, meanwhile, came in for Seityasen Singh.

Chennaiyin gaffer John Gregory made just two changes to the side which started against Bengaluru, with one of them being a forced one. Jaime Gavilan came in for the suspended skipper Henrique Sereno, who was red-carded in the last match, while Keenan Almeida replaced Anirudh Thapa.

Languishing at the bottom

While the host started on a brisk note with the lively Lallianzuala Chhangte setting it up as early as the seventh minute, Chennaiyin FC got into the rhythm and took control of possession as the match progressed. Both sides had their share of chances to score before going on an all-out attack in the dying minutes as Portugal sent in new signing Manuel Arana.

The draw left Chennaiyin one point behind Jamshedpur FC in the fourth place while Dynamos stayed last with only eight points from its 13 games.

Sign in to unlock all user benefits
  • Get notified on top games and events
  • Save stories to read later
  • Access to comment on every story
  • Sign up / manage to our newsletters with a single click
  • Get notified by email for early bird access to discounts & offers to our products
Sign in

Comments

Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide to our community guidelines for posting your comment