Robin Singh scores last gasp equaliser to fetch Delhi crucial point

Delhi Dynamos celebrate the injury time equaliser

After the Jawahar Lal Nehru Stadium listed a record attendance on November 3 for Delhi’s game against North East United FC, the franchisee and their opponents from Mumbai were received with what could at best be labeled as a lukewarm response.

The team coached by Roberto Carlos almost seemed uninspired till Robin Singh scored an injury time equaliser to extend the franchisee’s unbeaten run at home.

Surplus Changes in Squads

The teams on pitch wore an altered look as both managers fiddled with their squads. Anelka made five changes to the side that lost 1-4 to Atletico de Kolkata. He dropped himself along with Pavel Cmovs, Subash Singh, Juan Aguilera and Ashutosh Mehta and brought in by Kinshuk Debnath, Frederic Piquionne, Cristian Bustos, Sampath Kuttymany and Selim Benachour.

Carlos too, relegated himself to the bench amongst two other changes. Francis Fernandes and Robin Singh too were benched and Seminlen Doungel, Souvik Chakraborty & Adil Nabi were drafted in to starting XI.

Drab First Half

The most startling of those changes was that of the only recruit in the Hero Indian Super League from the English Premier League. Pakistan-born Nabi had come on a substitute in games before this but was never started by the gaffer. His almost immediately repaid the confidence bestowed upon him by running through the Mumbai defence and testing Subrata Pal early. The experienced custodian though held his own.

Then close to the half hour mark, Norde's through ball found Piquionne, who ran into the box from the left before giving it back to the Haitian, but he slipped on the edge of the box just before connecting.

A while later, Malouda's pass was tapped in by Nabi into the path of Gadze, who was set to go one-on-one with Subrata Paul, but Bertin made a brilliant last ditch tackle to thwart the Ghanian from what was the perhaps the best chance of the opening 45 minutes.

Frederic Piquionne of Mumbai City FC celebrates his goal (Photo courtesy ISL)

Delhi dominate | Mumbai lead | Delhi return

Post the breather the teams looked rejuvenated and atleast seemed to threaten the opposition goal. The hosts were swiftest off the blocks as Malouda dazzled with a couple of trademark runs down the flanks. Nabi and Gadze however couldn't add the decisive final touch.

Around the 70 minute mark then, Dos Santos and Robin Singh were introduced by Carlos to force a result. The move seem to have backfired as in what seemed to be a momentary lapse of concentration from the Delhi defence, Benachour sent a through ball for Piquionne who ran past Doblas before slotting home in an empty net to score the first goal of the night.

Singh, who had not managed to score since his debut, then forced Pal to make an acrobatic save. That along with a few other desperate attempts from Malouda and Dos Santos were all that Delhi had to show till the final minute of stoppage time when Robin Singh scored from Aite’s flick on from Malouda’s free-kick.

The result ensured the Dynamos stayed on FC Goa’s heels atop the ISL points table. Mumbai meanwhile, moved up to fourth, a point ahead of Atletico de Kolkata and Chennaiyin FC.