Delhi Dynamos FC edged ATK 4 – 3 in a free-scoring encounter at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Delhi in Hero Indian Super League (ISL) 2017-18 on Saturday. For ATK, Sibongakonke Mbatha scored on his debut, while Robbie Keane bagged a brace. The Lions scored through Seityasen Singh, Matias Mirabaje and Kalu Uche, who netted twice.

The pace of the match was slow to begin with as both teams were content playing the ball in midfield without making any real inroads in the final third. It was the Lions who grew into the game and took the lead in the 22nd minute. Seityasen put in a cross from the right and Anwar Ali’s block fell straight to Uche who pounced on the loose ball and put it into the back of the net.

That spurred on ATK who started attacking with more fervour and were rewarded eight minutes from the break. Hitesh Sharma weaved his way into the box before passing the ball to debutant Mbatha. The South African’s shot from a tight angle took a deflection off the Delhi defence to wrong-foot keeper Xabier Iruetaguena and nestle into the back of the net.

ATK then spurred a great opportunity in the 42nd minute when Mbathe followed up a great run to put Keane through on goal with his pass. But the Irishman, facing just the keeper, scuffed his shot wide. It proved to be the last chance of the opening period as the teams went into the break locked at 1 – 1.

Following the restart, the visitors took only seven minutes to go ahead. Keane stepped up for a free-kick from the edge of the box and placed it beautifully into the top corner, giving Iruetaguena no chance.

A couple of minutes later, he nearly got a second when after seeing the Delhi keeper off his lines, he attempted an audacious lob from a long way out. Much to the agony of the ATK fans though, the ball ricocheted off the crossbar.

But Keane did get his second two minutes before the hour mark. Mbatha went on a scintillating run from midfield, all the way to the penalty box. His eventual shot was fumbled by Iruetaguena and Kolkata’s top-scorer was placed perfectly to tuck the ball home.

Delhi responded in the 69th minute when Seityasen fired in a cross from the right and Uche tapped home from close-range. The equaliser came two minutes later when Lallianzuala Chhangte put in a cross from the left flank, and Seityasen ran in and tapped home for Delhi’s third of the night.

Five minutes from full-time, following a flowing Delhi attack, Uche laid the ball off for Pritam Kotal with a lovely back-heel, but the latter’s powerful shot was tipped over the bar by Soram Poirei at full stretch.

The winner came two minutes into injury-time. Manuel Arana weaved his way into the box and passed the ball to Uche, and this time the Nigerian’s lay-off came to Mirabaje, who placed into the bottom corner as Delhi leapfrogged ATK in the league standings.

MATCH AWARDS

Club Award: Delhi Dynamos

Swift Limitless Player: Robbie Keane

DHL Winning Pass of the Match: Lallianzuala Chhangte

Amul Fittest Player: Sibongakonke Mbatha

Emerging Player: Lallianzuala Chhangte

Hero of the Match: Kalu Uche

Watch the match highlights here: