NEW DELHI: Mumbai City FC turned the match on its head in the second session and consigned Delhi Dynamos to their sixth defeat in the Indian Super League season with a 4-2 victory at the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium here on Monday.
Last year, the match between the two sides had produced six goals with Delhi Dynamos winning 5-1. It produced six goals again on Monday but Mumbai had the last laugh this time around.
A Souvik Chakraborty own-goal (3rd minute) had given Delhi the lead before Mumbai turned it around in the second half through a Rafael Bastos penalty (49th) and an own goal from Marti Crespi (61st). Gianni Zuiverloon (64th) restored parity for Delhi Dynamos but Raynier Fernandes (69th) and Paulo Machado (80th) put the result beyond any doubt for the visitors. The victory saw Mumbai climb to the fourth spot in the points table while Delhi Dynamos remained rooted to the bottom without a win to their name.
It took an own goal from Souvik to put Delhi ahead when a cross from Lallianzuala Chhangte was deflected into the back of the net. They could have doubled the lead in the 17th minute when Chhangte crossed from the left for Nandhakumar but the winger’s shot was aimed skywards. Delhi were lucky to survive midway into the first half when Rafael Bastos’ right footed goal-bound effort was fisted away by goalkeeper Albino Gomes. Mumbai struggled to get a foothold into the game especially in the middle of the park and coach Jorge Costa replaced Milan Singh to bring on Raynier Fernandes. For all of Delhi’s possession, they only had one shot on target which was through an own goal. Mumbai started the second half well, though. In the 49th minute, Delhi captain Pritam Kotal was guilty of handling a shot from Bastos.
The Brazilian made no mistake from the spot and helped Mumbai make it 1-1. Just at the hour mark, Bastos played a brilliant through-ball for Sougou, but Crespi just about managed to clear the danger. Mumbai took the lead in the 61st minute as Crespi scored an own goal.
This was after Paulo Machado’s cross was looped into the far corner by Crespi as a desperate Gomes tried to keep the ball out but to no avail. Three minutes later, Delhi restored parity. Rene Mihelic’s free-kick was headed into the net by Zuiverloon. But it all went downhill for Delhi from then on. (PTI)
