ISL 2018: Delhi Dynamos tumbles to yet another draw
Lallianzuala Chhangte helped score two goals but defensive lapses proved costly yet again as Delhi Dynamos played out a 2-2 draw against Jamshedpur FC in the Indian Super League.
Published : Nov 04, 2018 22:32 IST
Lallianzuala Chhangte provided a glimpse of victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here but defensive lapses proved costly again as Delhi Dynamos played out yet another draw (2-2) – this time against Jamshedpur FC – in its faltering campaign in the Indian Super League.
With the result, Jamshedpur goes to the top of the table, on goal difference.
Sergio Cidoncha scored through a counter-attack and gave Jamshedpur FC the lead in the first half, but Chhangte starred in two early goals in the second to take his side to within sniffing distance of a victory. The goals lifted the spirits of the coach Josep Gombau and the crowd, but victory proved elusive yet again as Tiri, unmarked, equalised via a header off a corner in the 72nd minute.
The first half was insipid for the most part. Neither goalkeeper was made to make a single save until the 38th minute, when Gourav Mukhi’s weak shot was saved by the Francisco Dorronso. A minute later, Jamshedpur FC attacked on a counter and found the Dynamos defense wanting. The field was free – only two defenders within reach of four opponents – and Cidoncha made no mistake, slotting it home on the left.
In the first half hour, there were a number of half-chances: Bikramjit held on to the ball too long in front of the Jamshedpur box, Mukhi wasted a chance on the counter, and Daniel Lahlimpuiah, having received a promising cross in the box, headed wide.
Jamshedpur’s lead could have been doubled just before the break, Mukhi’s header tipped on to the crossbar by a leaping Dorronso.
The contest came alive in the second half. A dog’s intrusion, too, became the cause of much excitement among the crowd. Gaps in defence and lacklustre finishing plagued Dynamos for the first half of the contest, and it took - ironically for a team that relies on the passing game – a counter-attack to turn things around.
The tables couldn’t turn for the home side, as Jamshedpur FC captain Tiri scored a diving header in the 72nd minute to restore parity. Delhi Dynamos goalkeeper Albino Gomes pulled of a fine save to block a fierce strike from Cidoncha in the 87th minute and ensured that his side picked up a point from the tie.