Agencies
Guwahati, November 24
Delhi Dynamos registered a 2-1 victory over NorthEast United FC at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium, Guwahati as the two sides were down to ten-men with Soumik Chakraborty (45+1’) and Aiborlang Khongjee (83’) being given their marching orders.
Two first half goals by Gustavo Marmentini and Hans Mulder were enough for the Oranje to win three points as they now have 10 points from as many matches which saw them move to seventh position due to more goals scored (two more) than NorthEast United who are on the same number of points as their opponents on Monday evening.Kondwani Mtonga pulled one back late in the second half but NorthEast’s couldn’t convert the chances that came their way and paid the price by suffering their second defeat on home soil.
It took six minutes for the visitors to take the lead as Gustavo Marmentini cur in from the right and unleashed a fierce left-footed strike which hit the underside of the crossbar before crashing into the back of the net.
The home team could have equalized five minutes later when Koke did ever so well to intercept a pass and round off Kristof Van Hout only to see his effort hit the post. Delhi doubled their lead in the 14th minute as Marmentini beat a defender and passed it for Mulder outside the box who turned and fired his shot into the far corner.
Thereafter, NorthEast created a couple of chances midway through the first half. First Isaac Chansa won a free-kick on the right and Zodingliana Ralte’s delivery saw Miguel Garcia’s flick go wide. Chansa was at it again when his pass for Koke was brilliantly controlled by the Spaniard however, he skied his shot when he only had Van Hout to beat.
Around the half hour mark, Shylo Malswamtulunga was clean through on goal but Rehenesh came off his line in a flash to clear the impending danger. Delhi had another chance that went begging as Marmentini slipped in a pass for Francis Fernandes whose shot from inside the box was parried away by Rehenesh.
In the first half injury time, Ralte was brought down by Soumik Chakraborty clumsily and was issued his second yellow card which saw Delhi being reduced to ten men.
The first chance of the second half went NorthEast’s way as Ralte put in an inch perfect cross from the left which saw Seminlen Doungel in acres of space at the far post but he looped his header over the bar.
Dong-Hyun Do shot from distance as Van Hout parried it on the path of Chansa. The Belgian goalkeeper did well to hold onto the midfielder’s follow-up shot.
NorthEast upped the ante and put the Dynamos under pressure by launching attack after attack with the final pass missing. The breakthrough came in the 80th minute when Koke’s flag-kick was headed into the far corner by Kondwani Mtonga.
Aiborlang Khongjee picked up his second yellow card in the 83rd minute as NorthEast too went down to ten-men. In the 85th minute, Francis was once again through on goal from the right but his shot went straight to Rehenesh.
Mtonga was it again in the 87th minute when he shot from distance went inches wide as Van Hout was beaten.
Pavel Elias saved a certain goal when he got in front of Yanes and cleared the cross sent across the face of goal by Boithang Haokip. Deep into the injury time, Koke dinked a pass over the top which only needed a touch from Luis Yanes but Van Hout just about managed to hold on the ball.
The north east side haven’t won their last six games and they need to get back on winning track if they hope to make it into the semis. Delhi’s confidence would certainly be boosted with a fantastic performance by Marmentini.
