Pavel Elias unleashed a rasping volley to cancel out a penalty conversion by Atletico de Kolkata's Jofre Mateu and enable Delhi Dynamos finish with a 1-1 draw in an Indian Super League match here Sunday.
The Czech Republic player blasted the ball flying into the top corner of the net from about 25 metres in the 74th minute of the well fought encounter at the sprawling Salt Lake stadium to raise Dynamos' points tally to two from the same number of games. The side had earlier drawn with FC Pune City.
It was also the first goal conceded by the hosts in the tournament. Earlier, the hosts had gone into the lead four minutes into the second session. Wim Raymaekers brought down an advancing Atletico striker Fikru Teferra by pulling his shirt inside the box, prompting referee Santosh Kumar to point to the dreaded spot.
Mateu made no mistake in putting the ball into the right corner as Dynamos goalkeeper Kristof Van Hout dived at the wrong end.
Atletico de Kolkata, who now have seven points from three matches, looked pale compared to their first two encounters, as they missed suspended midfielder Borja Fernandez. Also skipper Luis Garcia had to be taken off in the second half with a pulled hamstring, and they played out the final minutes one man short after Raksh Masih was given marching orders on earning his second yellow booking.
Dynamos, with their iconic recruit Alessandro Del Piero taking the field from the outset, played a more attacking game - particularly in the second half.
Piero made the first goalbound move of the exchange, as he displayed some silken skills inside the opponent box, but was tackled to submission.
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At the other end, the Ethiopian Fikru - despite being marked closely - proved a constant irritant for the Dynamo defenders with his enterprising runs.
However, he missed an easy chance in the 19th minute after launching into a solo by intercepting a back puss by the Delhi team's Hans Mulder. The striker surged into the box, but Van Hout rushed out and narrowed the angle. Fikru tried to put the ball in between the goalkeeper's legs, but the sphere went out off the Belgian's heels.
Dynamos, on the other hand, were distinctly unlucky, as Shylo Malswamtluanga's firm shot off a pass from Del Piero kissed the crosspiece and went out.
After putting his side ahead in the 49th minute, Mateu came near scoring again, but Van Hout saved the situation.