Dynamos dominate but fail to earn full points against Pune City
NEW DELHI: A look at the scoreboard may show the match ended in a stalemate between the teams, but Thursday’s Indian Super League (ISL) encounter between Delhi Dynamos and FC Pune City was hardly an even contest.
The hosts looked completely in control from the start and it was their lack of finishing that resulted in their third consecutive draw at home. Delhi Dynamos manager Gianluca Zambrotta opted for a 4-1-4-1 formation with Richard Gadze up front and that was instrumental in his team’s success in controlling the midfield.
However, FC Pune’s Armenian keeper Edel Bete had a great day at office. The two-time ISL winner produced a flurry of saves to keep his team in the game and he was rightfully named ‘Man of the Match’.
FC Pune got the opener against the run of play as a cross from Rahul Bheke found Tato in the dying moments of the first half. His looping header dipped into the back of the net.
For the hosts, Brazilian forer-in-chief down the left flank. From making piercing runs to providing inch-perfect crosses, the 29-year old was a force to be reckoned with.
Ironically, it was the Brazilian forward who squandered the best chance at the restart. A slight confusion between Bete and defender Narayan Das resulted in the keeper spilling to shoot, Marcelinho could only manage to find the side netting.
However, he made amends assisting debutant Milan Singh to score in the 79th minute. His well-measured pass found the 24-year old in front of the goal and he drilled in a low shot into the far corner.
BARCA REPORT TAKE LA LIGA CHIEF TO COURT MADRID: Barcelona reported La Liga president Javier Tebas to Spain’s highest sports court on Thursday after he questioned the Barca players’ conduct during a heated 3-2 win at Valencia last weekend.
Luis Suarez and Neymar were hit by a plastic bottle thrown by Valencia fans as Barca celebrated Lionel Messi’s 94th-minute winner on Saturday.
A disciplinary committee of the Spanish Football Federation fined Valencia 1,500 euros on Wednesday and said a repeat could result in a stadium closure. However, the committee also criticised the “reproachable behaviour” of the Barca players as Neymar and Messi were recorded shouting obscenities