FC Pune City lose 1-2 to a solid Delhi Dynamos at Balewadi Stadium

Robin Singh scored the first goal of the game (Image source: ISL)

Delhi Dynamos brought down the high flying FC Pune City with a 2-1 win in the 2015 Hero Indian Super League, at Balewadi sports complex on Wednesday. Robin Singh scored in the 24th minute of play but there was drama later in second half injury time as Richard Gadze made it 2-0 and Kalu Uche scored the consolation goal for Pune.

Refereeing has always been a concern and this time it was MB Santosh Kumar who hogged the limelight for wrong reasons. There were a couple of decisions in course of the game that raised eyebrows including a couple of calls that weren’t made but looked like stonewall penalties.

Pune did try all the approaches in the game but could not give any impetus for the over 8000 crowd to cheer. This victory has enhanced Roberto Carlos’ side in the points tally as they jump to the third position while Pune have to be content in the 2nd place.

David Platt brought in their marquee player Tuncay Sanli in the place of Wesley Verhoek to strengthen the strikeforce during the game, while Didier Zokora came in for James Bailey.

It seemed like foreign coaches in the ongoing 2nd Hero Indian Super League, preferred Indian players as three national team players who just returned from World Cup Qualifier, in Muscat were included in the the teams. It was clear, on the eve of the match, Roberto Carlos, the Delhi Dynamos coach and David Platt did hint that he would always gun for Indian players.

Robin Singh was in playing XI while Jackichand Singh found his name in the playing XI of the host’s side, and Eugeneson Lyngdoh in the substitutes list.

Both Robin and Eugeneson played for India on Tuesday while Jackichand was in the substitute. Roberto Carlos preferred Robin Singh to Adil Nabi, while Platt opted for Jackichand over Didier Zokora.

The teams did take some time to settle and it was FC Pune City who showed signs of aggression. Jackichand’s volley on the run from the left was straight at the keeper Antonio Doblas, who made a neat collection, this happened in the 6th minute.

Robin Singh scored on his debut for Delhi Dynamos to put his side ahead in the 24th minute. The India national team forward who arrived late this afternoon nodded home the first corner of the match.

Pune exhibited brilliance in patches. In the first 15 minutes they had 58 % possession, but it went down after they conceded the goal, and they had a revival of sorts in the last quarter, during which they were even denied what looked like a penalty in the 45th minute. If there was any doubt about the first one, the second one in the latter half of the game when Lenny Rodrigues was brought down in the box was clearer but neither was noticed by the referee.

In the end, the visitor’s triumphed over the home team but it was a matter of fine margins and Pune will hope they can bounce back from this loss that they will feel was unjust.