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Pune City pip Delhi in seven-goal thriller in ISL

FC Pune City prevailed 4-3 over league leaders Delhi Dynamos to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the…

Pune City pip Delhi in seven-goal thriller in ISL

Representational Image (Photo: Getty Images)

FC Pune City prevailed 4-3 over league leaders Delhi Dynamos
to boost their chances of reaching the semi-finals of the Hero Indian Super
League (ISL) here on Friday.

FC Pune City were down by a Kean Lewis (44th minute) goal in
the first session but turned the match around in the second session with goals
from Anibal Rodriguez (55th and 63rd), Mohammed Sissoko (62nd) and Lenny
Rodrigues (90th).

Delhi Dynamos remained in contention with an own goal from
Eduardo Ferreira (79th) and a goal from Malsawmzuala (90th) till the very end
at the Shree Shiv Chhatrapati Sports Complex Stadium.

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The victory took Pune City to the fourth spot with 15 points
from 11 matches, just two less than Delhi Dynamos who could have sealed their
place in the play-offs with three points here.

Chennaiyin FC and Atletico de Kolkata, both out of the top
four now, can move on top with victories on Saturday, while NorthEast United FC
(11 points) and FC Goa (11 points) are still in the competition with three
matches left to be played.

In an exciting contest, Delhi goalkeeper Soren Porei was the
hero for his team in the first 45 minutes after stopping a penalty from
Mohammed Sissoko and blocking Momar Ndoye twice in a one-on-one situation.

Pune City had better control and should have taken the lead
when Anibal was brought down inside the danger zone and the referee awarded a
penalty. But marquee player Sissoko ended up with a poor penalty which Porei
saved by guessing correctly and diving to his left.

The miss proved costly for Pune as they conceded a goal
close to half time. Marcelinho’s back-heel from just outside the box released
Emerson Gomes de Moura (Memo) whose ball inside the box saw Kean Lewis find
space and time to slot it inside the net in the 44th minute.

The goal was the 400th in the ISL and gave Delhi confidence
that they can qualify for the semi-finals with three matches in hand but Pune
struck in the 55th minute. A free kick from Jonatan Lucca found Anibal who rose
high over two defenders and headed it into the far post.

Seven minutes later, Pune City were ahead when Sissoko made
amends for his poor penalty and slotted home from inside the box from another
free kick.

Pune appeared to wrap up the game only a minute later as
Anibal capitalised on a blunder from Delhi Dynamos. Goalkeeper Porei threw the
ball away to Ruben Gonzalez who could not control it. Anibal picked it up and
beat the goalkeeper at the near post with a powerful strike.

Florent Malouda had a hand in the second goal for Delhi as
his shot across the goal hit defender Eduardo and sailed into the goal in the
79th minute. Any chance of a comeback was snuffed out by Pune midfielder Lenny
Rodrigues when he finished a pass from Lucca in the last minute of play.

Malsawmzuala did manage to pull another goal back for Delhi
in added time but there was no more time for the equaliser as the visitors lost
3-4.

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