KOLKATA: Atletico de Kolkata handed Delhi Dynamos their first defeat of the season as they huffed and puffed their way to a 1-0 victory in a dramatic Hero Indian Super League encounter at Rabindra Sarobar Stadium, Kolkata, on Saturday.
Atletico de Kolkata had never defeated Delhi Dynamos in four previous clashes but Iain Hume converted a 78th minute penalty after his side were reduced to 10 men and became the highest goal-scorer in the history of ISL with 18 strikes, ahead of Colombian striker and last year's Golden Ball winner Stiven Mendoza.
Just two minutes earlier, Delhi Dynamos had won a penalty and even had Atletico de Kolkata defender Henrique Fonseca sent off for a second bookable offence, but Marcelinho’s effort from the spot was wide of the mark.
The victory took Atletico de Kolkata to the second spot with nine points from five matches while Delhi Dynamos are fourth with six points.
It surprised nobody that the teams took time to settle down but it were the visitors who enjoyed the better chances in the first 45 minutes. The first clear chance came about in the 24th minute for Delhi when Florent Malouda played a ball down the middle for Marcelinho. The Brazilian drew out the goalkeeper and even managed to push it beyond him towards the goal where Prabir Das was on hand to turn the ball away for a corner.
Ten minutes later, Atletico de Kolkata goalkeeper Debjit Majumder had to make three saves in quick succession as Delhi just couldn’t find a way past him from inside a crowded goalmouth. At first, it was Malouda who forced a save from the goalkeeper and then Richard Gadze, Marcelinho and Rupert Nongrum all missed.
Atletico de Kolkata were subdued and couldn’t really trouble the rival citadel with Sameehg Doutie and Iain Hume both trying their luck without any success.
In the second session, it was an entirely different story at the start as Atletico de Kolkata came out all guns blazing. Borja Fernandez picked up Doutie with a perfect ball but the South African shot wide even though there were three of his teammates waiting for the pass inside the danger zone. Another header from Hume went wide.
At the other end, Gadze made a mess of an opportunity when a Kolkata defender slipped and he was left with only the goalkeeper to beat but Gadze mistimed his shot, allowing the goalkeeper a simple collection. Gadze, however, redeemed himself by winning a penalty in the 76th minute, which led to Fonseca’s sending off, but Marcelinho could not convert the penalty.
Even with 10 men, Atletico de Kolkata attacked and were rewarded 90 seconds later when Doutie was brought down by Lalchhawnkima, prompting the referee to award a penalty. Hume stepped up and made no mistake to emerge as the highest goal-scorer in the history of ISL.
