Elias stunner saves Delhi
Kolkata, Oct. 19: Czech midfielder Pavel Elias struck a stunner to help Delhi Dynamos halt Atletico de Kolkata’s twomatch winning run as the teams played out an intense 1- 1 draw in their Indian Super League fixture here on Sunday.
Barcelona’s youth system product, Jofre Mateu, gave the home side a 49thminute lead but Dynamos bounced back through Elias in the 73rd to give the visiting side their first point.
The scoreline may suggest otherwise but the match was full of intensity and Italian World Cup winner Alessandro Del Piero, who started in the XI, narrowly avoided a red card after an intense scuffle with the Kolkata players.
There was a clash between the players when Del Piero brought down Denzil Franco with his left- foot tap in an outrageous challenge.
The players surrounded the iconic Juventus star and pushed him before the goalkeeper intervened.
The home side had their share of run- ins as well, resulting in back- to- back red cards as they were again reduced to 10 players when Rakesh Masih was given a second yellow in the 88th minute.
Masih’s substitution in place of Kolkata’s marquee player Luis Garcia, who pulled a hamstring muscle at the break, gave Dynamos the edge and they bounced back.
Action was reserved for the second half as Jofre converted a penalty with ease, drilling the ball low to the left of the 6 feet 10 inch Kristof van Hout to put Kolkata ahead.
Jofre showed his presence of mind to convert the first penalty of the franchise league that came after Wim Raymakers pulled Fikru’s jersey to bring the Ethiopian down in the decisive moment of the second half.
If van Hout impressed in the first- half standing tall under the bar, the goal also exposed his vulnerability to collect low strikes as Kolkata looked to press further in front of a packed house.
The Dynamos were put under pressure as the duo of Jofre and Fikru up front kept the opponents defence on vigil.
But Elias shocked the home crowd, scoring with a 23- yard long ranger after Del Piero put in the cross. Former Liverpool star Garcia may be unavailable for a week after pulling a hamstring muscle.
“He felt like a bit tired. We will check in 24 hours, he only needs to rest,” Atletico de Kolkata manager Antonio Habas said. Team manager Rajat Ghosh Dastidar said, “It’s a hamstring injury and may take about seven days to heal.”