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NEUFC FC edge past Delhi, semis hope alive

By The Assam Tribune

GUWAHATI, Nov 30: NorthEast United FC came up with a spirited performance to beat Delhi Dynamos FC 2-1 in front of more than 21,000 spectators at Guwahati and keep their semifinal hopes alive. Seityasen Singh scored in the 60th minute for the hosts while Koffi Christian N�dri (Romaric) doubled their lead in the 71st minute. Marcelinho halved Delhi�s deficit in the 93rd minute.

The first chance of the game came Delhi�s way as early as the third minute when Florent Malouda�s clever through-ball found Richard Gadze , who with only the goalkeeper to beat, put his effort wide.

Delhi certainly saw more of the ball from there on, and kept a good amount of pressure on the Highlanders. However, the next opportunity came NorthEast�s way, against the run of play, when in the 18th minute Emiliano Alfaro ran on with the ball towards goal and even got his shot away but Delhi goalkeeper Antonio Doblas stood his ground and made the save. That move spurred NorthEast on and soon they started taking the attack to the opposition.

At the other end, Gadze found another opportunity in the 35th minute when he took down a long ball with his chest in the penalty box but Highlanders goalkeeper TP Rehenesh was quick off his feet and grabbed the ball to see out the danger.

The match went end-to-end as Kean Lewis missed the next chance for the Lions when he blasted a first-time volley over the bar. Be that as it may, neither team could find a decisive finish and the score line remained goalless at half-time. The second-half started in an uneventful way, but NorthEast managed to break the deadlock fifteen minutes into the half as Seityasen controlled Didier Zokora�s long ball on the right flank, showed great strength to shrug off Souvik Chakraborty while going into the penalty box, and rolled the ball into the goal from a tight angle to send the home fans into a frenzy.

The hosts doubled their lead in the 71st minute when Robert Cullen�s slick pass found Romaric and this time the Ivorian, through on goal, finished neatly, beating an on-rushing Doblas.

Delhi did manage to get a goal back in the 93rd minute through Marcelo Leite Pereira. � Agencies

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