Delhi Dynamos 1-1 NorthEast United: 5 Talking Points

The ISL season two today reached exactly its mid-stage with each team playing seven matches each. Delhi Dynamos came into this match winning against defending champions Atletico de Kolkata while NorthEast United were hammered 5-1 in Mumbai.The Highlanders’ coach Cesar Farias made host of changes in the starting line up and fielded a defensive 5-4-2 formation without Nicholas Velez and Simao Sabrosa. On the other hand Delhi had their marquee player cum coach Roberto Carlos starting in place of Chicao.It was an entertaining match that saw equal possession of the ball on both ends. NorthEast, of course, had more chances of scoring, but the lack of a finisher in the first half haunted them again. Both teams ultimately had to settle for a 1-1 draw. Here are five talking points from the game. All images in this slideshow a have been sourced from the ISL.

#1 NorthEast United came close to getting the win

The story is again the same for NorthEast United, no conversion. NEUFC significantly dominated the first quarter of the first half making multiple attacks, but luck and skills both betrayed them.

Sanju Pradhan, who has three assists to his name, tried his best with multiple shots, but most of them went off target. They came really close to scoring in the 8th minute, but Kamara’s header off Sanju’s corner hit the bar instead.

Again, in the 33rd minute there were three back to back shots at the goal by Sanju, Kamara and Dadzie, but the Delhi goalkeeper kept his clam to save the initial two, while the third went wide.

The desperation for goals was very evident in the team as everyone went for long shots, including Silas. So despite, leading the attack index by 62%, NorthEast again failed to score a goal in the first half.

#2 Steady start by Delhi

Delhi had a really packed defence, allowing no space for NorthEast players. Led by veteran John Arne Riise, Delhi Dynamos compelled NorthEast players to shoot from distance as things were kept really tight inside the box. It was a steady start for Delhi as they kept their composure and exploited NorthEast United’s weakness against counter attacks to score the first goal of the match.

Ghana forward Richard Gadze scored his 3rd goal of the season, while Malouda earned his fourth assist in the 38th minute when both of them dissected NorthEast defence to score the goal. Even NEUFC’s goal was from a freekick that the defence could have done little about.

#3 Delhi\'s goalkeeper to the rescue

Delhi Dynamos were probably the second best team tonight. And it was goalkeeper Antonio Doblas Santana and defender John Arne Riise who held things for them. It was busy night for the Spanish goalkeeper who had made 23 saves until this match and had 2 clean sheets.

He made two back to back saves in the 33rd minute. Again in the 47th minute he produced another scintillating save. Hero of the Match, Riise was another player who utilized his experience to counter NorthEast attacks and stood still in the defence line. He nullified at least five attempts which were sure shot goals.

#4 NorthEast\'s love for woodwork

Luck was surely on NorthEast’s side. They hit the woodwork four times in the match. In the 8th minute, Kamara’s header hit the crossbar. Again in the 56th minute, Silas took a freekick from the edge of the box which again hit the crossbar and went behind the post.

In the 61st minute, Dadzie managed to break the offside trap and used his left foot to shoot. The keeper didn't even move as he thought the ball was going out and was saved the blushes by the woodwork.

If they had been a little more clinical, those chances could all easily have been goals.

#5 Super sub Simao Sabrosa

The strategy of Cesar Farias to rest his key players in the first half and bringing them on in the second half as fresh legs again came into play here. Both Simao Sabrosa and Nicholas Velez were in the substitution list again today.

In the 71st minute, Diomansy Kamara was brought down from behind by Hans Mulder just on the edge of the box. The referee first pointed to the spot, but later upon instruction from the linesman decided to change it to a free kick just at the edge of the box, despite NorthEast’s repeated appeals.

Farias, utilized this time on the field to bring on their marquee player Simao Sabrosa, who took the kick and scored from his first touch of the game to equalize things for NorthEast United.