Brazilian midfielder Gustavo Santos’s remarkable display right through the game resulted in a crucial 1-0 victory for Delhi Dynamos against FC Pune City in the Hero Indian Super League at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Saturday.
Santos worked wonders in the 88th minute latching on to a pass from the persevering Adil Khan on the right flank. He outwitted defender Dharmaraj Ravanan and finally beat Arindam Bhattacharya from a tight angle to give his team a probable place in the play-offs.
Dynamos picked up three points to take their tally to 17 and occupy the fourth position behind Chennaiyin FC, FC Goa and Atletico de Kolkata.
Dynamos marquee player Alessandro del Piero came in for Shylo in the 69th minute, but it was Santos who turned out to be the real hero for Dynamos.
Drops to sixthFC Pune City has dropped to the sixth position from 13 games.
While Dynamos need to beat Chennaiyin FC in the last away game to make sure of its entry into the semifinals, Pune City has to beat Kerala Blasters to keep its hopes alive.
There was plenty of good fare for the faithful on Sunday as Pune City, playing its last home league match, and Dynamos produced a well-matched contest. Pune’s Nigerian striker Dudu very nearly provided the magic moment in the early stages, but was twice caught in the off-side trap.
Thereafter, Englishman Jermaine Pennant and home talent Meharajuddin Wadoo came close to bringing their individual efforts to fruition, but Dynamos’ giant Belgian goalkeeper Kristof van Hout baulked them; the one off Pennant he deflected off his finger tips to rebound off the far post.
Pune played the initial stages with enthusiasm and much intent, the play revolving around Pennant, Dudu and Wadoo and the defence ably handled by South Korean Park Kwang-il.
Dynamos gradually organised themselves with Spanish mid-fielder Bruno Arias controlling possession and creating openings.
The visitors earned a clutch of corners mid-way through the first half and it was sheer luck that saved the home team when striker Mads Junker directed a Santos corner wide of the near post.
Soon an injured Arias had to leave the scene and was replaced by Bruno Dinis.
After slackening a bit, the home team pressed hard in the last quarter before the interval with Pennant very nearly converting.
