Defending champions Chennayin FC were humbled in their own backyard as a tactically astute Delhi Dynamos side made the most of their opponents' rustiness to register a 3-1 win at the Marina Arena.
Marcelinho scored a first-half brace and Badara Badji scored the third, deep into the second half in a game that was described as the battle of the Italian World Cup winners, Gianluca Zambrotta and Marco Matterazzi.
For Chennaiyin, it was a clear case of one goal completely upsetting their rhythm after they had pressed Dynamos in the early part of the game. The home side passed the ball forward with purpose in the first half of the game. Dudu had the first real chance of the game from a Jayesh Rane cross but the striker's header from close range went well over the bar.
Chennaiyin continued to pose questions to the Dynamos' backline as Jeje Lalpekhlua got into the game with a shot on goal but Toni Doblas smothered the ball with both hands.
There were signs of Chennaiyin's slow backline getting caught out; their high defensive line playing into the hands of the pacy Dynamos' wingers.
Against the run of the play, Richard Gadze scored from a rebound but the offside flag went up.
Chennaiyin's 'keeper, Duwayne Kerr was all at sea as he was left exposed by his defence, and conceded a penalty. Marcelinho proceeded to give Dynamos the lead by slotting his penalty to the bottom-left corner.
Dudu equalised for the hosts as he latched onto a loose ball; the Nigerian surging ahead and found the net, albeit from slight touch from Doblas.
The Dynamos forward Marcelinho bagged his second with a world class one-touch strike, beating Kerr at his right-hand post.
Marcelinho then had a chance to complete his hat-trick before the half-time break after breaking through from the left but he failed to round Kerr, running straight into the goalie instead.
The second-half started at a slow tempo as Gadze spurned a great chance to double Dynamos' lead. Substitute Badji eventually doubled his side's lead with a powerful header as Dynamos won their first game of the season.
Brief Score:
Chennaiyin FC 1 (Dudu) lose to Delhi Dynamos 3 (Marcelino x 2, Badara Badji)
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