Malouda triggers goal fest as Delhi thrash Chennai 4-1

Florent Malouda scored a brace as Delhi’s goal fest got them to the top of the table with the Dynamos thrashing Chennayin 4-1 in front of 15,111 people at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium on Wednesday.

Delhi Dynamos now sit atop the ISL table with 16 points, a point ahead of second placed Mumbai City FC while Chennaiyin FC remain on the 5th spot with 10 points.

Delhi began on a high note pressing the Chennaiyin defence with the Delhi forwards displaying good sink and control. But it was Chennai who got the first good look at the goal when a well-placed free kick reached Dudu’s head only to be collected safely by Doblas.

Chennai from the beginning looked to be playing it a little rough as Sana Singh got injured in the 4th minute itself and had to be substituted with Lalchhawnkima.

Delhi sprinted back in action with Malouda, Lewis and Gadze combining well to trouble the Chennai defence. Delhi was rewarded for their hard work in the 16th minute when Siam Hangal, under pressure from Gadze and Malouda, lost the ball in his own half. Malouda shot the ball at goal but Karanjit punched it straight only for Gadze to tap it in.

Soon in the 25th minute, Delhi found another goal through their marquee player Florent Malouda. Tebar put a good cross towards Malouda who misdirected it towards Sabia Filho but Gadze immediately won the ball back and teed up Malouda who shot it home.

Post the goals, Chennai saw much more of the ball while Delhi just looked too be putting the ball away. Chennai were soon rewarded for their high pressing as solo brilliance of Bernard Mendy got Chennai back in the game in the 37th minute. From the midfield to Delhi’s box, Mendy danced around with the ball mocking the Delhi defence and convincingly slotted the ball home.

The first half saw three bookings with Hans Mulder, Dudu Omagbemi and Siam Hangal getting in the records.

After the break, Materazzi made an attacking change by bringing in Jeje in place of Hangal.

Chennai had a golden chance to level the game early on but Delhi held on and the final shot went wide.

Delhi seemed to be in the groove with Malouda yet again being the centre of Chennaiyin’s troubles. In the 53rd minute, Malouda paced forward with the ball and passed off to Gadze who lurked around and back-heeled towards Malouda whose shot was tipped over by Karanjit.

In the next minute itself, Malouda played around with Chennai defence yet again to pass off to a ‘running-in’ Lewis who shot the ball in.

The thrill of having three goals on the board showed in Delhi’s play as they kept sprinting forward to find the net again and again. Chennai was hardly able to create a real chance.

Delhi’s goal fest was completed in the 85th minute as Malouda scored a brace by tapping in Badji’s header off a Marcelinho corner.

Delhi will next face Atletico de Kolkata at home on November 13 while Chennaiyin FC will take on Kerala Blasters in the Southern Derby in Kochi on November 12.