Dehli Dynamos and FC Pune City delivered a thrilling match in their opening match of the ISL yesterday.
Let’s have a look at what we have learned from the 3-2 win for Dehli.
#1 Lallianzuala Chhangte is RAPID
The young winger had already created the opening goal for Paulinho Dias when he burst through the Pune defence at an incredible rate of knots to finish a fine individual goal. According to reports, Chhangte recorded a top speed of 35.80 km/h in his dash towards goal, making him faster, according to statistics, than Ronaldo and Messi. Gareth Bale still has the highest ever recorded match speed at 36.9 km/h.
#2 3-0 is a tricky lead in the ISL
Traditionally it has been thought that 2-0 is the tricky lead, but the ISL are proving otherwise. FC Goa led Chennaiyin 3-0 only to edge over the line 3-2 at the weekend and yesterday Dehli looked untouchable as they led by three. FC Pune City fought their way back into the game themselves and could have been disappointed not to have got a point in the end.
#3 FC Pune City can take positives
Ranko Popovic claimed he was happy with his side’s performance after they went 3-0 down. He has a point as Pune did finally settle into the game and look quite dangerous. Injuries and fitness seem to be a problem for many of the sides, not just Pune and Popovic will be hoping Kean Lewis can start a game soon.
#4 Forget the fact the let in two, Dehli were superb
To the naked eye, was this the best opening performance so far? FC Goa and Bengaluru FC could lay claim to that but neither side put in performances that felt electric. Dehli were superb in that little spell where they scored three, and if they can increase the length of spells like that could be very, very dangerous in this year’s ISL.
#5 We’re all talking about Chhangte, but what about Matijas Mirabaje?
Manu Lanzarote scored the goal of the weekend for FC Goa, but what about that strike last night by Matijas Mirabaje? Sure, Chhangte deserved his “Hero of the Match” award for getting us off our seats, but Mirabaje’s goal was a moment of beauty that deserves its own recognition. There is something magical about a left-foot curler into the top corner that a right-footed effort can just not match.
