Chennaiyin breeze past Delhi Dynamos

Chennaiyin FC whipped a hapless Delhi Dynamos 4-0 here on Tuesday to keep their semi-final hopes alive in the ISL. After opening the scoring in the 17th minute with his 10th goal of the season, Colombian hotshot Stiven Mendoza also had a hand in the other three as the hosts ran riot by racing to a 3-0 lead before the break. Chennai boss Marco Materazzi, who once again preferred Bruno Pelissari to his Brazilian compatriot Elano in the starting XI, would be delighted with his team’s show because India’s Jeje Lalpekhlua also got into the act with an opportunistic brace. Pelissari, who had scored a stunner with a corner kick in the same fixture in season one, justified his selection with a splendid goal. The stellar form of goalkeeper Edel Bete meant Chennaiyin maintained their first clean sheet at home this season.

While Elano was the star last year, it’s Mendoza all the way in Season Two. Materazzi also deserves credit for doing his homework well as his team ripped the best defensive unit in the league apart.

Chennaiyin busted Roberto Carlos’ game plan by finding space on the flanks. Mendoza put Chennaiyin ahead with a superb volley after Delhi goalkeeper Antonio Doblas headed the ball on a platter to the Colombian after misjudging Jeje’s long pass just outside the edge of his area.

Chennaiyin doubled their lead from Edatho-dika Anas’s blunder. The defender failed to control the ball after his goalkeeper had rolled it to him on the right. Pelissari pounced on the mistake and sent Mendoza clear on the left. The Colombian, in turn, squared it for Jeje. Even though the Mizoram player’s shot was blocked, Pelissari was at hand to apply the coup de grace.

Mendoza wasn’t finished yet at the other end. After exchanging a one-two with the team’s midfield rock Raphael Augusto, he sent an inch-perfect cross from the left for Jeje to slam home. The agony was, however, not over for Delhi as Jeje completed his brace in the 54th minute after a Mendoza shot had been blocked.