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Sunday's double-header action in the ISL began in Chennai as the high-flying Chennaiyin FC took on the struggling Delhi Dynamos FC at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
Chennaiyin FC began the game in the second spot on the table with 16 points from their eight matches and they had a chance to leapfrog FC Pune City and go atop the table. Delhi Dynamos FC, on the other hand, were on the bottom with just three points from their seven matches, having lost six games on the trot.
The two sides shared the spoils in an exciting affair in Chennai as a late strike from Guyon Fernandez saw the Delhi Dynamos equalize. Jeje Lalpekhlua, who turned 27 today, grabbed a brace on his birthday and put the Chennai side ahead after David Ngaihte's header had given the away side the lead early on.
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Chennaiyin FC are now atop the standings with a tally of 17 points from nine matches whereas Delhi Dynamos stay at the bottom with 4 points from eight matches.
Here are the player ratings from the match:
Chennaiyin FC
Karanjit Singh (7) - The Chennai custodian was beaten in the first half by a great move by the Dynamos when David Ngaihte scored past him with a powerful headed effort. Karanjit made a superb save from an effort by Romeo Fernandes in the first half that kept the scores level. He was unfortunate to concede at the end after putting in a commanding performance.
Inigo Calderon (7) - The former Brighton and Hove Albion man was a lively presence on the right flank for the home side. Calderon made a lot of marauding runs on the wings and was solid in the defence as well.
Mailson Alves (7.5) - The Brazilian centre-back who was handed the captain's armband in the absence of Henrique Serano was a rock in the defence for the home side. He came close to scoring on a couple of occasions as well.
Dhanachandra Singh (7) - Singh, who came in on account of Sereno's suspension did well alongside Mailson Alves with some crucial interceptions and clearances. He was caught napping when David Ngaihte scored the header but overall, had a stable night in the centre-back position.
Jerry Lalrinzuala (7) - The young Indian left-back was always in the action with his movement on the left flank keeping the Delhi right-back Pritam Kotal alert all times. Jerry combined well with Mihelic and Nelson to create chances for the home side.
Dhanpal Ganesh (7.5) - The local lad was a strong figure in the Chennai midfield as he played the role of facilitating play between the defence and the attack for the home side.
Germanpreet Singh (7) - The young Indian international's role in the midfield was mostly resorted to stopping the Delhi plays from taking shape. Germanpreet provided the assist for Jeje's second goal with a good pass into the box.
Francisco Fernandes (5.5) - The Goan winger had a quiet outing today as he was not involved much for Chennaiyin FC in their attacking moves. He was substituted in the second half and made way for Nigerian Jude Nworuh
Rene Mihelic (8) - The former Slovenian international Mihelic was the driving force behind the Chennaiyin FC attacks. The midfielder moved the ball across the pitch and provided good deliveries from set-pieces as well, providing the assist for Jeje's goal from a free-kick.
Gregory Nelson (7.5) - The Dutch winger was a constant source of worry for the Delhi defence with his strong runs on the left flank. Nelson put in some crucial crosses for Jeje inside the box and created many chances.
Jeje Lalpekhlua (9) - The Mizo Sniper, who turned 27 today, had a pretty quiet outing till he scored the equalizing goal for the home side with a great header from Mihelic's delivery. Jeje got his brace on the night early in the second half with a great finish into the top corner after turning Pratik Chowdhary with a good move.
Substitutes:
Jude Nworuh (5.5) - The Nigerian winger came on in the second half and was in the thick of things providing some good crosses into the box for Nelson and Jeje to latch onto.
Raphael Augusto (5.5) - The Brazilian came on in the second half to raucous cheers from the home crowd and slotted right into the role of the midfield general. He moved the ball around well
Anirudh Thapa (4.5) - The young midfielder replaced Gregory Nelson for the final five minutes of the match and did not have enough time to have an impact on the game.
Delhi Dynamos FC
Xabi Irureta (6.5) - The new signing for the Dynamos was had a busy evening between the sticks as Chennaiyin continued to pile on the pressure on the Delhi goal after going a goal down. He conceded twice on his debut but it could have been more considering the intensity of Chennaiyin FC.
Pritam Kotal (7) - The Delhi skipper and Indian international had a busy evening with having to deal with the dual threat of Jerry Lalrinzuala and Gregory Nelson.
Pratik Chowdhary (6) - The former Mumbai FC man was constantly in action in the Delhi defence as he was outmanned during the first goal scored by Jeje Lalpekhlua. Pratik was again caught with a good move by Jeje when he scored the second goal.
Edu Moya (6) - The Spaniard who generally plays in the midfield had a troubled time dealing with the attacking threat of the Chennaiyin side.
Nandhakumar Sekar (7.5) - The young left-back was the provider for the Delhi goal scored by David Ngaihte. His overlapping run was found by Chhangte and Sekar crossed it well for David to head it past Karanjit Singh.
Paulinho Dias (6.5) - The Brazilian had a quiet game and lacked his usual flair in the middle of the pitch. He resorted to a more defensive display today along with Vinit Rai having to contain the intensity of the Chennaiyin midfield.
Vinit Rai (6.5) - The holding midfielder for the Delhi side put in an industrious shift with constantly being under the pressure from the Chennai side.He put an end to a lot of plays in the midfield from the home side.
Romeo Fernandes (7) - The Goan was involved in all the Delhi Dynamos attacking moves on the pitch. He came agonizingly close to scoring when his volleyed effort was kept out by the Chennai keeper Karanjit Singh with a last-ditch save.
Lallianzuala Chhangte (6.5) - The young pacy winger was influential in the attack as his pass led to the creation of the goal scored by David Ngaihte. He kept the Chennaiyin defence on their toes with his movement.
David Ngaihte (8) - The Manipur man who started his first game this season put the away side ahead in the 24th minute, getting on the end of a cross from Nandhakumar Sekar.
Jeroen Lumu (6) - The Delhi forward had a quiet day on the pitch as he was kept quiet by the Chennai defence and did not have any shots on target for the away side.
Substitutes:
Kalu Uche (6) - The Delhi attacker who came on in the second half provided the assist for the equalizer as he headed the delivery onto the path of Fernandez who made no mistake of scoring the goal.
Guyon Fernandez (7) - The substitute made hay of his opportunity as he got the equalizer at the end for the away side getting on the end of the header from Uche and scoring past the hapless Karanjit Singh.
