Delhi beat Pune by three goals to one in an entertaining encounter on Thursday in front of a home crowd of 14,299 at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Adil Nabi and Anas Edathodika scored from corners in the first half while John Arne Riise made sure of the points with a late penalty which meant that Adrian Mutu’s free kick was a mere consolation for FC Pune City.
With this win, Delhi moved to second position in the table with 18 points. Considering that 20 points seems like a good bet to make the playoff spots and also keeping in mind that 19 points were enough to make it to fourth place last year, Delhi have virtually assured themselves of a playoff spot with four games remaining.
What will give them even more confidence is that their last two games are at home against the Kerala Blasters and FC Goa, which means they should, in all probability, be going all out in their next two away matches against an ailing Chennaiyin and NorthEast United to try and make sure of that spot.
Pune’s slump continues
Platt’s men looked like a team going through the motions as they extended their winless streak to five matches, their last win coming in a 3-2 encounter at home against the Blasters on matchday six.
After that match, Pune were first in the table with 12 points from six games and were looking to cruise towards qualification. But this span of matches has seen their promising early season form peter out and they are in danger of throwing all the good work done in the first half of the season.
After playing 11 matches, Pune are now fourth with 15 points on board. It doesn’t get any easier for them as they play two of their last three games away. The next match sees them travel to Kolkata, the home of the reigning champions who are on 17 points and will be desperately chasing a win of their own to make sure of their spot in the last four.
The other remaining away match sees them pitted against NorthEast, a team which is just two points below them with a game in hand. A loss there could see the two teams swap positions in the table and fortunes, something unthinkable for NorthEast who started the campaign with three losses.
Pune now have a negative goal difference of -1, and have scored four goals in their last five while they have conceded eight in the same time. They will now be looking over their shoulders at the likes of NorthEast and Mumbai, both of whom have a game in hand vis-à-vis Pune.
Their wretched away form is only comparable to Mumbai’s in this year’s league, with both teams only picking up two points from their travels. Pune surely will have to reverse that, in order to make this year’s semifinal cut.
Delhi start well
Delhi came out like a team possessed and attacked from the word go. They forced Pune goalkeeper Arindam into three saves in the first five minutes and forward Len was continuously getting behind the away defence.
Some astute defending and last minute blocks from Nicky Shorey and Roger Johnson were keeping the Delhi attack at bay. Robin Singh and Johnson were having their own personal duel, the Indian striker was denied by the ex-Birmingham defender a couple of times.
Pune got their first shot on goal in the 29th minute when KaluUche had a tame left shot saved by Toni Doblas. In the 31st minute, Len broke the offside trap and chipped keeper Arindam only for Pune’s central defenders to get back in time and clear the ball.
Pune, however ignored the warning signs and were duly punished. In the 35th minute, Chicao swung in a corner and the ball was flicked on at the near post, making its way to Adil Nabi who was wrestling with his marker. Nabi did just enough to bundle the ball over the line and give the home side a deserved lead.
Five minutes later, it was 2-0, the goal resulting from a corner again. Malouda swung in a corner for his sixth assist of the season when Anas ghosted in ahead of his marker Didier Zokora, running in from the deep and guided a bullet header past Arindam in the Pune goal.
Pune’s defensive lapses had cost them dearly and the half ended with Uche testing Doblas at his near post this time with a powerful header.
Delhi started the second half strongly when the ball rolled perfectly into Len’s path in the penalty box. Len was unlucky as his shot hit the base of Pune’s near post providing Pune with a temporary reprieve.
Adrian Mutu then stepped up to take a free kick, which swerved wickedly, forcing Doblas in the goal into a good save.
There was a controversial incident in the 60th minute when Malouda planted his studs into Sushant’s knee. Sushant was stretchered off the field in a worrying sign for the Pune team and was replaced by Bikash Jairu.
Richard Gadze and Ralte Adinga were causing problems for Pune’s defence by their runs into the box. On one of these runs, Adinga ran into the left side of the box only for Govin to bring him down.
The referee promptly pointed to the spot and gave Govin his second yellow of the page and his marching orders. Riise stepped up to take the penalty and stuttered in his run-up, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his first goal of the season.
Riise then gave away a free kick in the last minute of injury time, which Mutu stepped forward to take. He got the free kick to dip and Doblas could only get his fingers to the ball, helping it on his way and giving Pune a consolation goal.
Now, the next match between NorthEast and Mumbai assumes immense importance as a win for either of these sides would prove to be detrimental to Pune’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
With this win, Delhi moved to second position in the table with 18 points. Considering that 20 points seems like a good bet to make the playoff spots and also keeping in mind that 19 points were enough to make it to fourth place last year, Delhi have virtually assured themselves of a playoff spot with four games remaining.
What will give them even more confidence is that their last two games are at home against the Kerala Blasters and FC Goa, which means they should, in all probability, be going all out in their next two away matches against an ailing Chennaiyin and NorthEast United to try and make sure of that spot.
Pune’s slump continues
Platt’s men looked like a team going through the motions as they extended their winless streak to five matches, their last win coming in a 3-2 encounter at home against the Blasters on matchday six.
After that match, Pune were first in the table with 12 points from six games and were looking to cruise towards qualification. But this span of matches has seen their promising early season form peter out and they are in danger of throwing all the good work done in the first half of the season.
After playing 11 matches, Pune are now fourth with 15 points on board. It doesn’t get any easier for them as they play two of their last three games away. The next match sees them travel to Kolkata, the home of the reigning champions who are on 17 points and will be desperately chasing a win of their own to make sure of their spot in the last four.
The other remaining away match sees them pitted against NorthEast, a team which is just two points below them with a game in hand. A loss there could see the two teams swap positions in the table and fortunes, something unthinkable for NorthEast who started the campaign with three losses.
Pune now have a negative goal difference of -1, and have scored four goals in their last five while they have conceded eight in the same time. They will now be looking over their shoulders at the likes of NorthEast and Mumbai, both of whom have a game in hand vis-à-vis Pune.
Their wretched away form is only comparable to Mumbai’s in this year’s league, with both teams only picking up two points from their travels. Pune surely will have to reverse that, in order to make this year’s semifinal cut.
Delhi start well
Delhi came out like a team possessed and attacked from the word go. They forced Pune goalkeeper Arindam into three saves in the first five minutes and forward Len was continuously getting behind the away defence.
Some astute defending and last minute blocks from Nicky Shorey and Roger Johnson were keeping the Delhi attack at bay. Robin Singh and Johnson were having their own personal duel, the Indian striker was denied by the ex-Birmingham defender a couple of times.
Pune got their first shot on goal in the 29th minute when KaluUche had a tame left shot saved by Toni Doblas. In the 31st minute, Len broke the offside trap and chipped keeper Arindam only for Pune’s central defenders to get back in time and clear the ball.
Pune, however ignored the warning signs and were duly punished. In the 35th minute, Chicao swung in a corner and the ball was flicked on at the near post, making its way to Adil Nabi who was wrestling with his marker. Nabi did just enough to bundle the ball over the line and give the home side a deserved lead.
Five minutes later, it was 2-0, the goal resulting from a corner again. Malouda swung in a corner for his sixth assist of the season when Anas ghosted in ahead of his marker Didier Zokora, running in from the deep and guided a bullet header past Arindam in the Pune goal.
Pune’s defensive lapses had cost them dearly and the half ended with Uche testing Doblas at his near post this time with a powerful header.
Delhi started the second half strongly when the ball rolled perfectly into Len’s path in the penalty box. Len was unlucky as his shot hit the base of Pune’s near post providing Pune with a temporary reprieve.
Adrian Mutu then stepped up to take a free kick, which swerved wickedly, forcing Doblas in the goal into a good save.
There was a controversial incident in the 60th minute when Malouda planted his studs into Sushant’s knee. Sushant was stretchered off the field in a worrying sign for the Pune team and was replaced by Bikash Jairu.
Richard Gadze and Ralte Adinga were causing problems for Pune’s defence by their runs into the box. On one of these runs, Adinga ran into the left side of the box only for Govin to bring him down.
The referee promptly pointed to the spot and gave Govin his second yellow of the page and his marching orders. Riise stepped up to take the penalty and stuttered in his run-up, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way for his first goal of the season.
Riise then gave away a free kick in the last minute of injury time, which Mutu stepped forward to take. He got the free kick to dip and Doblas could only get his fingers to the ball, helping it on his way and giving Pune a consolation goal.
Now, the next match between NorthEast and Mumbai assumes immense importance as a win for either of these sides would prove to be detrimental to Pune’s hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals.
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