Mumbai, Delhi in exciting draw

Mumbai City FC were coasting to what seemed like a comfortable night after taking a 2-0 lead at the breather through Krisztian Vadocz’s brace in the 33rd and 39th minute. The two goals in six minutes should have been enough for the visitors but Delhi Dynamos turned the screws in the second session. 

Richard Gadze pulled a goal back in the 51st minute before Sony Norde made it 3-1 for Mumbai City with about 20 minutes still left to be played. Senegalese striker Badara Badji then threw a lifeline for Delhi Dynamos in the 76th minute and Marcelinho scored a penalty in the 81st minute to make it 3-3.

The draw left Delhi Dynamos in third place with six points from three matches while Mumbai City are placed second with eight points from five matches.

Delhi Dynamos were forced to introduce new defensive players in their set-up and they seemed to do well at the start, until Vadocz struck just after the half an hour mark. It was a gem of a goal as Leo Costa saw Vadocz make a superb run and split the defence with an exquisite pass which Vadocz met and sliced it past the onrushing goalkeeper Soram Poirei.

Before Delhi Dynamos recovered from that setback, they were down by two goals. This time it was a free-kick from Sony Norde which struck the crossbar and to the home team’s misfortune, rebounded for Vadocz to head home.

In the second session, Delhi Dynamos clawed their way back through Gadze. It was Florent Malouda who sent a ball through for Marcelinho. The Brazilian had a chance to try his luck but he saw Gadze in the clear, passed to him and saw the ball being glided into the goal.

Mumbai City restored their two-goal advantage in the 69th minute through another brilliant goal. Norde played a delightful one-two with Cafu, who lifted the ball over the defence, allowing Norde to slam the ball inside the goal for his team’s third of the night.

It seemed curtains now for Delhi Dynamos. With time ticking out, Delhi Dynamos coach Gianluca Zambrotta made a substitution, introducing Badji. The substitute Senegalese striker immediately repaid his manager’s faith, giving finishing touches to a pass from Malouda and then it was all square in the 81st minute when Delhi won a penalty.

It was Gadze who was brought down by the Mumbai goalkeeper and Marcelinho stepped up to tie the match at 3-3 in a highly-entertaining clash.