In an unexpected turn of events, Delhi FC secured a thrilling 1-0 victory over Sreenidi Deccan at the Deccan Arena. Stephane Binong scored the solitary goal of the match in the 71st minute of the match, collecting all three points for the team. This was also the first time that Sreenidi Deccan was unable to score a goal at the Deccan Arena in the I-League.
This victory was also Delhi FC’s first triumph of the I-League 2024-25 campaign, and it came against all odds. They climbed to 10th spot in the table with this victory. Sreenidi Deccan, known for their formidable home record, were looking to move to the top of the table with a win. Sreenidi Deccan are one of the most threatening sides in the league with consecutive second-position finishes in the last 2 seasons, and was a major challenge for the Warriors of Delhi FC.
Rui Amorim, the gaffer of the Deccan team, made three changes to his starting line-up, with Faysal Shayesteh, Abhishek Ambekar, and William Oliveira replacing Roly Bonevacia, David Castaneda, and Emboklang Nongkhlaw. William found the back of the net as well which was ruled offside based on a contentious call by the linesman.
The first half was a cagey affair as both teams failed to capitalize on the chances created. Sreenidi Deccan created more chances, however the Delhi defense stood strong and no space was given to the Deccan attackers to have a shot on target. The turning point of the match came with two masterstroke substitutions by Delhi FC. The introduction of Goyary and Jakob changed the game’s dynamics, and it was Jakob’s pinpoint pass that found Samir Binong in the second half, allowing him to score the winning goal. This was the second consecutive goal by the Cameroonian, and it sparked jubilation among the Delhi FC players and fans.
The Delhi FC defense, and midfield marshaled by the indefatigable Hriata, put up a strong show, ensuring that Sreenidi Deccan did not find the back of the net. Calvin Abhishek, making his first start of the season, kept a clean sheet, underscoring his importance to the team.
This was a historic win for Delhi FC as this was the first time ever that a side travelled to the Deccan Arena and came out with a clean sheet and a win.
The match was not free from controversies as the offside given against the goal scored by William Alves was proven to be a wrong one in the replays. This happened soon after the Delhi team took the lead and this had a massive impact on the final outcome. The introduction of David Casteneda and Eli Sabia couldn’t make the expected impact of the game. Delhi FC will look to build on this momentum and continue their upward trajectory.
Delhi will take on SC Bengaluru in an away on 13th December and Sreenidi Deccan will lock horns against Dempos SC in their upcoming encounter. SC Bengaluru team is coming after a fantastic home win against the in-form Dempo SC. The team will need to maintain their intensity and focus if they are to continue their winning ways.
