Kolkata steal win as Delhi pay for penalty miss

ISL

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Ten-man Atletico de Kolkata handed Delhi Dynamos their first defeat of the season, as they huffed and puffed their way to a dramatic 1-0 victory at the Rabindra Sarobar Stadium. The win was also Kolkata's first ever in the ISL against Delhi, and lifted them up to fourth in the table. 

The match was decided in 120 manic seconds in the second half. In the 76th minute, Kolkata conceded a penalty and were reduced to 10 men when Henrique Fonseca was sent off for a second yellow. However, Marcelo Pereira's effort from the spot was well off target, and the hosts were given a let off. 

Kolkata immediately proceeded to attack, and in the 78th minute, Sameegh Doutie was brought down by Lalchhawnkima inside the box, prompting the referee to once again point to the spot. Iain Hume stepped up and did not flinch, sending the keeper the wrong way to become the leading goal scorer in ISL history with 18 goals. 

Both teams took time to settle down in the early exchanges, but it was Delhi who enjoyed the better chances. The first clear chance came about in the 24th minute for Delhi when Florent Malouda played a ball down the middle for Marcelo, who chipped the ball past the keeper, but was denied a goal thanks to a clearance on the line from Prabir Das.

Ten minutes later, Kolkata goalkeeper Debjit Majumder made three saves in quick succession as Richard Gadze, Marcelo and Rupert Nongrum just could not find the net from inside a crowded goalmouth. 

Kolkata were fairly subdued in the first half, but they came out strong in the second. Borja Fernandez picked out Doutie with a perfect ball, but Doutie shot wide even though there were three team-mates waiting for the pass inside the box. Hume also missed a good chance, heading wide from goal when he really should have tested the keeper.

At the other end, Gadze made a mess of an opportunity when a Kolkata defender slipped, putting him in a one-on-one situation with the keeper, but Gadze mistimed his shot. Gadze eventually redeemed himself when he twisted and turned past Fonseca to win a penalty, but Marcelo failed to capitalise. 

Despite the man advantage, Delhi could not really create any clear-cut chance in the last few minutes, as a dogged Kolkata side hung on for three crucial points.