Delhi Dynamos defeated Chennaiyin FC 1-0 to grab their first win of the second season of the Indian Super League on Thursday.
Dynamos defender Chicao scored a first-half penalty to claim all three points for his side at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in New Delhi.
The Dynamos player-coach Roberto Carlos made two changes to the side that suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of FC Goa on Sunday. Anas Edathodika and Gustavo Dos Santos made their way into the team in place of Anwar Ali and Vinicius.
Meanwhile Chennaiyin's Coach Marco Materazzi, who was present on the sidelines after his suspension, made four changes to the side that lost to Atletico de Kolkata on the opening day of the tournament.
Bernard Mendy, Stiven Mendoza, Balwant Singh and former Juventus midfielder Manuele Blasi made their way into the starting eleven in place of Fikru, Mailson, Jeje and Raphael Augusto.
The home side started the game with urgency, and they were ahead in just the eighth minute. Gustavo carried the ball to the opposition's box on the left flank, and his cut-back found Hans Mulder in the area. His initial shot struck the onrushing Blasi's arm, and the referee pointed to the spot.
Brazilian Chicao made no mistake from the spot to give Delhi a 1-0 lead.
The home side continued to torment the opposition with their pace for the rest of the first half. Chennaiyin's best chance of the half came on the 26th minute when Elano's free-kick caused a scramble in the Dynamo box, and John Arne Riise had to make a last-ditch block from Mendoza's shot.
The visitors again come close when Mendoza's 20 yard-effort struck the crossbar in the 34th minute. Both teams went into dressing rooms with the home side leading 1-0.
The visitors came out with a purpose in the second half and enjoyed a major share of possession, but they were undone by their wasteful finishing time and time again.
The Dynamos were content with soaking in the pressure and were happy to get their players behind the ball. In the end, they hung on to their lead to claim their first win of the season to sit fifth on the ISL table.
Chennaiyin now have lost their opening two games of the campaign which has them occupying sixth position.
2015 HERO ISL SEASON SCORES
Delhi Dynamos: 1 (Chicao (PEN) 8')
Chennaiyin FC: 0
Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi - 19,453
