DELHI: Delhi Dynamos scored a goal in added time to preserve their unbeaten home record in this edition of Hero Indian Super League after they held Kerala Blasters 3-3 in an entertaining six-goal thriller in Delhi on Thursday.
In a match that saw five goals in the first half alone, Kerala Blasters scored through Chris Dagnall (9th minute), Joao Coimbra (30th) and Antonio German (39th), while Delhi Dynamos hit back with goals from Gustavo Dos Santos (7th minute), Adil Nabi (40th minute) and Sehnaj Singh (90th minute).
Delhi Dynamos continue to occupy the third spot on the ISL table with 22 points, the same as FC Goa, and will play each other in the concluding league clash on Sunday. Kerala Blasters finished with 13 points, the same as bottom-placed Mumbai City FC but are now on 7th position on the table.
It seemed like business as usual for Delhi Dynamos who took the lead inside the first seven minutes. The irrepressible Gustavo Dos Santos was the one who opened the scoring as the Brazilian winger made a fine run to intercept a lovely chip from Florent Malouda and then glide it home with his first touch.
Kerala Blasters may have been momentarily pegged back by that early setback but two minutes later they were on level terms, thanks largely to a defensive error from Delhi Dynamos defender Anas Edathodika who missed a simple clearance and allowed Chris Dagnall an easy scoring opportunity.
Kerala Blasters were ahead for the first time in the 30th minute. Joao Coimbra came up with a gem of a strike as he dazzled his way inside the box on the right, cut past a couple of defenders and then curled the ball to the top corner of the net.
Coimbra’s goal was followed by another stunning strike, this time from Antonio German. The English striker chested a ball into the box with his back to the wall and then finished with a dazzling volley that left Delhi Dynamos goalkeeper Subhashish Roy Chowdhury rooted to the ground.
There was time for another goal in the first session as Delhi Dynamos clawed their way back with a goal of their own in the 40th minute. It was Adil Nabi who showed just why he is a Premier League footballer as the West Bromwich Albion striker (on loan to Delhi Dynamos) when he got on the end of a cross from Shylo Malsawmtluanga and headed it right past the goalkeeper who hardly had any time to react.
In the second session, Delhi Dynamos had more control of the proceedings but it was not until the five minutes of added time that they managed to find the equalizer. It came from the boots of Sehnaj Singh who, provided with time to take aim at goal from almost 30 yards out, took everyone by surprise with a cracker of a strike.