Pune
Lallianzuala Chhangte (17’) gave Delhi the lead before a solo strike by Nikhil Poojary (23’) brought Pune level. Romeo Fernandes’ deflected effort (29’) and Daniel Lalhlimpuia’s second half strike (52’) sealed the points for the visitor. Delhi and Pune remain eighth and seventh on the table respectively, with one more game left in the season. Josep Gombau’s men have taken their tally to 18 points.
Pune searched for an early breakthrough and had the Delhi backline in trouble twice in the first 10 minutes. Marcelinho’s corner was nodded wide by Matt Mills from the centre of the box in the third minute. Three minutes later, Poojary made the defenders stand off as he surged forward. The winger chose to chip the goalkeeper and over-hit a shot above the bar.
In the 17th minute, a throw-in from the right flank helped the tourist carve its opponent open as Daniel released Romeo down the right. The winger delivered an excellent cross into the centre and Chhangte slammed the ball into the net.
A moment of individual brilliance allowed Pune to equalise in the 23rd minute. Nikhil cut in from the right flank and curled a delightful shot into the top right corner. Delhi regained its lead in the 30th minute, once again from the right flank.
Ulises Davila punted the ball to Romeo, whose cross took a deflection off Sahil Panwar’s legs and looped into the net. Despite early promise from Pune in the second session, it was the visitor which scored in the 52nd minute. Gianni Zuiverloon played a one-two with Adria Carmona to get into the box, passed to his left for Davila to slam the ball at goalkeeper Kamaljit Singh. Daniel got to the rebound first and slotted it home.
Things turned from bad to worse for the host as Marcelinho picked up a second yellow card in the 90th minute.
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