ISL Season 3: Milan strikes as Delhi Dynamos play out yet another draw

Pune FC players celebrate their goal against Delhi Dynamos in their ISL-3 match in New Delhi on Thursday. The match ended 1-1. (Photo: ISL)

Delhi Dynamos dominated the proceedings but yet again played out a draw in a 1-1 result against FC Pune City in ISL action here on Thursday.

Delhi were denied thrice with Pune goalkepeer Edel Bete making fantastic saves while home side player Marcelo Pereira missed with an empty net in front as Zambrotta’s men played out their fourth draw of the season from six matches.

Pune barely had a clear chance except a blinder of a header at the fag end of the match by defender Rahul Bheke off a corner kick, besides the goal-bearing move.

Jesus Rodriguez Tato put Pune ahead in the 45+1 minute as he headed in a corner kick while Milan Singh found the equaliser in the 79th minute.

This was the third straight draw of Delhi at home and they remained sixth in the table with seven points from one won four draws and one loss.

Delhi already have become the side with most draws in the ISL before this match. They now have 14 draws in the ISL so far.

Pune also remained seventh in the eight-team league with six points from six matches from one win, three draws and two losses.

Delhi dominated the first half with the trio of captain Florent Malouda, Pereira and Richard Gadze tormenting the opposition defence with some fine moves mostly from the left flank and Pune defending their citadel. But, to the dismay of the 14,000 crowd at Nehru Stadium, Pune scored against the run of play during added time of the first session. Delhi had a look at the opposition goal in the third minute when Malouda laid one for Marcelinho who slid it to Addy on the overlap.

Just after resumption, Delhi had two chances to restore parity but failed to give the finishing touches. Captain Malouda was taken out and Badara Badji was brought in the 77th minute and just two minutes later, Delhi got the equaliser as Milan drilled a right-footer after Marcelo sent a ground pass to him instead of taking a direct try of the free-kick.

In Guwahati, NorthEast United FC and Atletico de Kolkata will be hungry to make amends and surge to the top of the table.

NorthEast were unlucky to lose against defending champions Chennaiyin FC in their last game and Kolkata lost their first match of the season when they went down fighting to Mumbai in front of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry at home.