Delhi Dynamos stepped up their game against Chennaiyin FC and ran out 4-1 winners at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi on Wednesday.
Goals from Richard Gadze and Florent Malouda gave Delhi an early 2-0 lead. Chennaiyin got one back through a terrific solo effort from Bernard Mendy. The Dynamos got a third through Kean Lewis’ strike before Malouda got his second late in the game to take his team to a comprehensive win..
Chennaiyin keeper Karanjit Singh had a rare off day and he was culpable for letting the Dynamos take the lead in the game, spilling a Malouda shot from distance. Gadze was quick to pounce on the rebound and put his side in the lead.
The Dynamos looked better on the ball too and it came as no surprise when they doubled their lead, which was 25 minutes gone in the first half. Malouda, this time, shot an excellent low curler past Mendy and into the net.
Against the run of play, Mendy stepped out from the back, out-muscled a couple of Dynamos defenders, and slammed the ball into the net. The Dynamos were punished for being lax on the ball but the Frenchman’s goal was easily one of the best efforts in the competition so far.
Chennaiyin needed to score early after the interval to get back in the contest and Baljit Sahni shot across the face of goal after space opened up for him on the left. The shot, though, missed the target.
Malouda yet again stepped up for his side and this time, it was with a nonchalant no-loss pass to Kean Lewis, who found the net with his first-time shot. Chennaiyin could have got one back through Jeje, who made a mess of an excellent chance at the far post after latching on to Davide Succi’s pass.
Delhi were edging closer to the fourth goal and six minutes from time, Malouda got his second through a rare header. At least for the next 24 hours, Dynamos will have the top spot in the ISL.
Brief scores:
Delhi Dynamos 4 (Florent Malouda x 2, Richard Gadze, Kean Lewis) beat Chennaiyin 1 (Bernard Mendy)
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