Delhi Dynamos kept its promise of attacking and high-energy football but failed to add goals as it played out a draw with FC Pune City in its opening Hero Indian Super League game at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Tuesday.
In the lead up to the game, there were speculations that a sell-out crowd would greet the host. In the end, it was anything but that. Not even half the stadium was full, but that had little impact on Dynamos’ motivation.
Staying true to its name, Harm van Veldhoven’s side was dynamic in its movement.
There were no goals but there was much to reminisce. Set up in a 4-4-2 formation, Dynamos’ intelligent movement in the final third caused major problems for Pune’s defence. Forward Mads Junker and Morten Skoubo drifted wide before bursting into the box; Francis Fernandes regularly drifted inwards; central midfielders Hans Mulder and Bruno Herrero Arias displayed a willingness to fill spaces on the flanks.
There were quite a few lofted balls in the opening quarter as Dynamos found its feet. Shylo Malsawmtluanga’s failed attempt to poke the ball home from six yards signaled the host’s intent and soon after, the attacking unit went into overdrive.
Mads Junker cut inside to force a diving save from Emanuele Belardi. Fernandes was denied by the goalkeeper too when he shot from the edge of the box following a corner. Passes came and went across the box but there was nobody to touch them. Pune’s response was to leave nine men in its own half. Only David Trezeguet and Israil Gurung were the outlets for a counter attack. There was room to create one as Kostas Katsouranis discovered when he breached Dynamos’ high defensive line to set Trezeguet through. Nothing came of the move.
Then, in what seemed a pre-decided move, Alessandro del Piero was brought on for Morten Skoubo in the 35th minute. In fact, the former Juventus striker had to wait for nearly a couple of minutes before he could come on. Although there were only 10 Dynamos players on the pitch, del Piero couldn’t step on the pitch due to the malfunctioning electronic substitution board. When the Italian was finally introduced, his lack of match practice and class were evident equally. There were some touches and turns of genius, interspersed with moments when he was a bit slow.
Yet, Dynamos’ dominance continued into the second half. Junker had a gilt-edged chance in the 58th minute when put through by Fernandes but he could only shoot at the ‘keeper from a tight angle.
The host’s dominant and energetic football couldn’t be sustained in the second period, however, as the players got tired.
Pune manager Franco Colomba was forced to freshen his side with three substitutions in 10 minutes but little changed. In fact, Dynamos could have won it towards the end if Gustavo dos Santos hadn’t found the bottom of the post from the edge of the box.
