Sreenidi Deccan FC 0
lost to
Delhi FC 1 (Stephane Binong 71′)

AIFF Media Team

HYDERABAD: Delhi FC lifted themselves off the bottom of the table with a well-deserved and hard-fought 1-0 win against Sreenidi Deccan FC at the Deccan Arena on Monday, December 9, 2024. This was Sreenidi Deccan’s second loss of the season and the first time ever they had failed to score in a home fixture in the I-League since they started hosting matches at the Deccan Arena in the 2022-23 season.

As a result, the Deccan Warriors missed the chance to go to the top of the table and remained in fifth spot with six points from four games. Delhi FC climbed to 10th place with four points from as many games.

The first half was one of fine margins, with neither team ending up on the right side of them. It was telling that despite the numerous attempts and the intricate play, there were zero shots on target through the first period.

For Delhi, the best chances presented themselves through set pieces, their improvised corner routines in particular often catching Sreenidi out. Twice the improvisations ended up with hasty clearances or cutbacks at the top of the box and on both occasions, Hridaya Jain blasted over.

For the hosts, all the joy was down the wings with Rosenberg Gabriel, Faysal Shayesteh and Jagdeep Singh, in particular, hugely influential. Unfortunately for them, there was no one to convert their deliveries into goals. The teams went into the break goalless, with both coaches perhaps looking to fire up their strikers and maybe even help them lace up their scoring boots for the next period.

Sreenidi seemed to have done just that, and within minutes of the restart carved up the Delhi defence to register a first real attempt at goal. After brilliant, intricate build up play William de Oliviera freed up the substitute Emboklang Nongkhlaw into the left side of the box. The wing back fizzed a low ball into the six-yard box, and William, arriving on the run, put his attempt wide.

Delhi would make them pay for the miss. Despite being the proverbial underdogs, they attacked with far more vigour and vision than the hosts as time wore on and in the 71st minute got their just reward. A long ball from midfield was collected by Jakob Vanlalhimpuia on the right wing. The winger collected and smartly cut the ball towards the centre of the box. Stephane Binong, lurking in the area, took a brilliant first touch to free himself of the marker before looping the finish over an onrushing Ubaid CK.

Sreenidi lumbered on without actually finding a route towards getting even. It was telling therefore that their best chance came in injury time, via a free kick at the top of the box. Ángel Orelien put his laces through the ball, straight towards goal, and it had Abhishek Calvin beaten all ends up. It rattled off the crossbar. The relief on Delhi’s players’ faces spoke volumes of how much it mattered. They had their first win of the season.