NorthEast United FC pumped in two quick first half goals in the space of five minutes to beat Delhi Dynamos 2-0 and notch up its first win of the season in the ongoing Indian Super League on Saturday.
Brazilians Marcio Junior and Danilo Lopes Cezario scored in the 17th and 22nd minutes to give NorthEast its first full three points after a draw and a loss in its first two matches of the season. The side now has four points from three matches.
Dynamos had much better possession but failed to convert the few chances that came its way in the side's first home game of the season that was sparsely attended.The team felt the absence of its Uruguayan attacking midfielder Matias Mirabaje, who did not take the field due to injury.
This was Dynamos' second consecutive loss after its 1-4 thrashing by Bengaluru FC on November 26. It now has just three points from three matches.
NorthEast, on the other hand, was able to convert the few chances it had while it took advantage of a goalkeeping howler by Albino Gomes to score the second goal.
It had drawn its first match against Jamshedpur FC at home before losing to Chennaiyin FC in its second match.
NEUFC's Brazilian Cezario had a fine effort at the Dynamos goal in the 10th minute as he pounced on a poor backpass by right back Pritam Kotal to his goalkeeper but he could not keep his shot down as it flew over the crossbar.
However, the side did not have to wait for long in taking the lead with another Brazilian Marcio finding the back of the Dynamos net in the 17th minute to the dismay of the crowd at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The spadework of the goal was though done by Assamese player Halicharan Narzary who cut into the Dynamos defence with a sudden burst before sending a perfect low cross from the left edge of the box for Marcio to fire in with his right foot, which was the team's first goal of the season.
Five minutes later, NorthEast doubled the lead with Cezario taking advantage of a goalkeeping howler. Dynamos kepeer Gomes goofed up in clearing the back-pass from Pratik Chowdhury. Gomes kicked into Danilo's path, who slotted the ball into the net with ease.
Jolted by the two quick goals, Dynamos pressed hard and in the 24th minute, Jeroen Lumu got a chance on the right after he was played through but his shot was kept away by the NorthEast goalkeeper T. P. Rehenesh.
Three minutes before the half time, Rehenesh again made another fantastic save as he denied Dynamos captain Kalu Uche from scoring. As Lumu took a low corner kick for the Lions, his ball reached Uche who tapped in the delivery but an alert Rehenesh blocked the shot.
The Dynamos dominated the second half and went all out, desperately seeking for goals which did not come. It had the best chance to make it 2-1 in the 65th minute but substitute David Ngaihte wasted the chance.
Ngaihte, who came in for an off-colour Pritam Kotal in the 62nd minute, found himself in a one-on-one position with NorthEast goalkepeer Rehenesh three minutes after taking the field. But he delayed his shot which allowed the goalkeeper to narrow down the angle and when he took the shot at last, he hit it straight to Rehenesh.
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