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A late equalizer from Robin Singh earned Delhi Dynamos a vital point at home to Mumbai City FC who were seconds away from claiming their first away victory in ISL history after Frederic Piquionne’s composed finish had given them the lead on 70 minutes.The game got lively in the second half after a cagey first forty-five minutes as both teams created the chances which were missing in the first half. However, Nicolas Anelka’s men will be disappointed after conceding a really soft goal which spoilt what was a perfect away performance. The draw, however, takes them into the top four spots temporarily as Delhi Dynamos go joint top with FC Goa.In a game of few chances, there were plenty of talking points as the battle between the two metros ended all square.Here are five talking points from the game.
#1 Mumbai City FC\'s away agony continues
The moment since Frederic Piquionne slotted in Mumbai City FC’s opening goal, it seemed that the Mumbaikars were on the cusp of ending their search for a win on the road. Mumbai City FC were seconds away from achieving it until Robin Singh’s late equalizer broke their hearts as their winless run away from the Dr. D.Y. Patil stadium continued. It was a classic case of so near yet so far!
However, Nicolas Anelka’s men will be gutted after coming out of the game with just one point. Mumbai City FC came agonizingly close to picking up all three points in their previous away game in Kochi against the Kerala Blasters when Frederic Piquionne hit the upright late on in that game.
Mumbai’s failure to pick up maximum points in away games might come back to haunt them as the race for the top four places intensifies. Mumbai City FC have four away games before the league stage comes to an end and will have to pick up a win at some point if they are to make it to the semi-finals.
#2 Yet another late show from Delhi Dynamos
Delhi Dynamos fans have become used to some late drama featuring their team and all the times that drama at the death has brought them joy. In yet another late show, Delhi Dynamos snatched a point from the jaws of defeat against Mumbai City FC when Robin Singh’s sweet left footed shot bulged the net behind Subrata Pal in the 94th minute of the game.
Delhi Dynamos have always found joy in the last fifteen minutes of the game where they have scored four times in eight games to change the result in their favour. The Dynamos netted late winners in away games against the Kerala Blasters and Atletico de Kolkata in identical 1-0 wins after a late goal in Pune had sealed the points for Roberto Carlos’ men.
The Brazilian will be delighted with his side’s belief and desire towards the end of the games and also goes to show the character in the Delhi Dynamos team. Having gained ten out of their fourteen points through late goals, Delhi Dynamos ability to keep going till the end might just make the difference in the end.
#3 Two points dropped or a point gained for Mumbai City FC?
Mumbai City FC made a great comeback from their last game where they were battered by Atletico de Kolkata. Mumbai City FC’s defence looked pretty solid as the Mumbaikars always carried a threat going front. But after being seconds away from picking up all three points, the draw will definitely feel like a defeat for Mumbai City FC.
However, if a point was offered to them before the game, Mumbai City FC might have taken it and looking from that perspective it wasn’t a bad result for the Mumbaikars. With plenty of away games to come, Mumbai City FC can take a lot of positives from this game as they prepare for their remaining away games.
Nicolas Anelka’s men always seem to have that goal in them as it was proved when they took the lead against a stern Delhi Dynamos defence, and that will always give them a chance in the away games.
However, it’s important that Mumbai City FC recovers from the late heartache which surely has left a bad taste in their mouth before their next game which is a home game against FC Pune City.
#4 Should Roberto Carlos start with Robin Singh in home matches?
Delhi Dynamos once again had to rely on their substitutes to change the course of the game for them as Dos Santos won the free kick which lead to Robin Singh’s goal. Robin Singh’s arrival from the bench gave Delhi Dynamos a focal point in attack and gave the Mumbai City FC backline something to deal with. Robin Singh also forced a brilliant save from Subrata Pal before eventually beating him with the last kick of the game.
Delhi Dynamos, however, drew a second straight game at home and their lack of goals might begin to worry Roberto Carlos. In contrast to the away games where the Delhi Dynamos forward line enjoy plenty of space to run into, teams travelling to the Jawaharlal Stadium in Delhi don’t give Dynamos that kind of space, thus suffocating the Delhi Dynamos attack.
That’s where a player like Robin Singh offers something different with his aerial prowess and might be the go-to man for Carlos in home matches, where they will have to better their results to be assured of a place in the semi-finals.
#5 Oscar Bruzon\'s absence on the Mumbai City FC bench fuels talks of a rift with Anelka
There were signs of a possible rift between Mumbai City FC’s marquee player cum manager Nicolas Anelka and assistant Coach Oscar Bruzon after the latter was rather defensive while answering a question about Nicolas Anelka’s performance on the pitch in the pre-match press conference ahead of the game, which Nicolas Anelka was supposed to address.
Bruzon stressed about his team’s unity when there were little questions about it, indicating a possible rift between the duo.
The talks of a rift between the two surfaced when Oscar Bruzon was absent from the Mumbai City FC bench for the game against Delhi Dynamos today. Although the perceived off-field problems didn’t reflect in the team’s performance, the questions will remain about the relationship between Anelka and Bruzon after the Spaniard’s absence from the dugout post his comments in the pre-match press conference.
Only time will tell what the real picture is behind the scenes at Mumbai City FC, but a difference of opinion at such a high level in the club might not be the best for their chances of making it to the semi-finals.
