Roberto Carlos was looking for the pole position in the Indian Super League table, but nevertheless, he won't be too displeased after making it to the second position, after his side Delhi Dynamos gave a dominating performance on Thursday evening to get past FC Pune City.
Carlos' side won the game 3-1 at the JLN Stadium in the national capital, and the game couldn't have been more one-sided. Florent Malouda remained the assist on two occasions, as Adil Nabi and Anas Edathodika popped in the crucial goals.
The icing on the cake was decorated by John Arne Riise through a penalty late in the game, after FC Pune City defender Govin Singh was shown a second yellow, and given marching orders.
Adrian Mutu, however, gave the much-needed twist to the game, as he pulled one back at the death for the away side.
The hosts were raring to go in every sense right from the opening whistle and the attackers couldn't have had a more decent first half. Brazilian forward Vinicius Ferreira was the most lethal man of the half, as he kept on pulling the trigger and forcing Arindam Bhattacharya to make saves after saves.
Len Doungel, Florent Malouda, Robin Singh, Adil Nabi all combined to make it a memorable first half for Roberto Carlos's team, and the Brazil legend could not be happier to see his side completely dominate their opponents on the night.
The opening goal came in the 36th minute off Malouda's corner. Everyone is aware of the former Chelsea star's inch perfect balls from the set pieces, and this time too, the ball from the corner reached Robin inside the box. Robin chested the ball to Nabi, and the West Brom player couldn't help but slot home comfortably.
Malouda remained the assist for the second goal as well as his 40th minute corner kick saw a perfect header from Indian defender Anas Edathodika.
The defenders were alert for FC Pune City, but somehow, big names like Roger Johnson and Gouramangi Singh could not live up to the constant attack from the hosts. Pune City marquee player Adrian Mutu did go for a spectacular goal from yards out in the half, but Toni Doblas could only parry the ball out.
Malouda received a booking in the hour mark for a clumsy stamp on Sushanth Matthew; the Indian had to be stretchered off and that was not a scene welcomed even from the home fans.
Ex-Romania international Mutu tried an effort on goal once again from a lethal free-kick in the 65th minute of play, but Doblas, even again, made a dive to his right to parry the ball out.
The final nail in the coffin for FC Pune City was put in by John Arne Riise, and the ex-Liverpool star converted an easy penalty in the 86th minute to make the score 3-0. Moments earlier, Govind Singh was shown marching orders after he received a second yellow in the game for a clumsy challenge inside the box.
For the away side, nothing really worked on the night. David Platt introduced Jackichand Singh with 20 minutes remaining on the clock. The Indian winger did come close to pulling one back for the visitors, but it did not happen.
However, the game waited for the late drama, and Mutu provided it. The Romanian hotshot converted from a close-range free-kick at the death to make sure Delhi Dynamos don't earn a clean sheet on the night.
Catch the highlights and goals from the game HERE.
