Dynamos drub Mumbai

Delhi Dynamos put up a concerted effort to outclass Mumbai City FC 4-1 in the India Super League encounter at Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Friday.

With their out of form star player Alessandro Del Piero not even figuring in the playing list, Dynamos gave an assured performance to dominate the contest and catapult to fifth place with 13 points. Mumbai, without Nicolas Anelka and Andre Moritz in the match, slipped to the eighth position with 12 points.

It was a better day for Dynamos who had spring in their steps all through the contest. After a few initial bursts, Mumbai were put on the backfoot by the charging Delhi side. The home team, keen to carry the tempo from their last away win, were pressing in their attacks. With captain and midfielder Hans Mulder and Francisco Fernandez combining well with Gustavo Marmentini dos Santos, Dynamos made relentless raids into the Mumbai box.

Dynamos came agonisingly close to scoring in the 12th minute when Mads Junker, on being found by Fernandez on the right, snuck in the ball past goalkeeper Subrata Pal but a dashing Deepak Mondal slid to make a superb clearance.

The hosts, though, continued undeterred, even surviving a missed header from debutant Sushil Singh, which travelled a bit too high. Delhi’s chance though finally came at the stroke of the half time. An Henrique Dinis Oliveira Dias pass was deflected by defender Manual Friedrich. The ball went to Francis, who fumbled, but Mulder quickly  pounced to smash home the opener.

Dynamos immediately add­ed to it on their lead on the return from the break. A through ball from Dos Santos found an unmarked Junker right near the goalpost and he calmly slid it past Paul. It was Dynamos all through from there as they attacked and passed with vigour. Mumbai at best could follow their dictates. Dos Santos (50th min) soon extended Dynamos’ lead to 3-0.

Though Mumbai reduced the margin though Abhishek Yadav (86th min), who successfully drove the ball home following a cross from left, Dynamos responded as Manish Bhargav (90+3), aided by some good work from Steven Dias, swelled their goal tally to four.