As it happened: Chennaiyin FC vs Delhi Dynamos FC, ISL Match 45

ISL 2015, Match 45: Jeje Lalpekhlua scores twice as Chennaiyin FC thrash Delhi Dynamos FC 4-0.

84 mins: Dhana does really well on the left flank to keep possession and bomb forward. He finds Jeje who was lurking just inside the edge of the penalty area. The striker goes looking for his hat-trick but fails to get the shot past his marker. Even at this stage, it is Chennaiyin FC who are looking for a goal.

77 mins: The final change of the night has been made. Bruno Pelissari has been replaced by Balwant for the last 15 minutes of football.

68 mins: Roberto Carlos has made the change that could help Delhi Dynamos FC. The pacy and tricky Dos Santos comes on to replace Florent Malouda.

Goal! Jeje scores his second in the 54th min. Chennaiyin FC 4-0 Delhi Dynamos FC.

52 mins: Both teams are still trying to get a hold of possession in the second half. At the moment, Chennaiyin FC are looking more comfortable on the ball.

The second-half kicks off.

Half-time: Chennaiyin FC 3-0 Delhi Dynamos FC.

45 mins: Delhi Dynamos FC are not losing hope. They are trying to build up the play slowly by passing the ball around, waiting for a chance. However, their execution has been letting them down. This time, Vinicius tries to curl one into the top left corner with his shot from the right. But, Edel Apoula was well positioned to make a comfortable save

35 mins: Raphael Augusto once again shows why he is so important to his team. He wins the ball off Florent Malouda and shows good footwork to get past the Frenchman. That sets up a chance for a counter but Delhi Dynamos FC avert the danger.

27 mins: Delhi Dynamos FC's stern defense had been rocked by the fast paced attacking football of Chennaiyin FC. Can they find a way to get back in the match or are we going to witness yet another goal fest?

Goal! Bruno Pelissari scores in the 21st min to make it 2-0 for Chennaiyin FC against Delhi Dynamos FC.

Goal! Stiven Mendoza scores in the 17th min to give Chennaiyin FC 1-0 lead against Delhi Dynamos FC.

15 mins: Adil Nabi plays an incisive pass to Malouda and the Frenchman turns brilliantly to beat his marker. He gets through on goal and tries to poke the ball past Edel at the near post but fails to keep the shot on target. It would have been saved anyway as the strike lacked the power to beat the Chennaiyin FC keeper.

10 mins: Bruno Pelissari sends a good in-swinging ball into the box with a free kick from the left. However, nobody managed to get on the end of the cross as it sailed out of play for a goal kick.

5 mins: Poor start by Delhi, right after kicking the game off, they looked to start an attack by playing a ball out wide to the left. The pass was overcooked and it went out of play, possession given away in a matter of 10 seconds.

Its kick-off time at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.

Starting XIs

Delhi Dynamos FC: Toni Doblas (GK), Souvik, Anas Edathodika, John Arne Riise, Ralte Adinga, Vinicius, Anderson Chicao (C), Florent Malouda, Len, Adil Nabi, Robin Singh.

Chennaiyin FC: Edel Apoula (GK), Mehrajuddin Wadoo, Mailson, Bernard Mendy (C), Dhana, Thoi Singh, Raphael Augusto, Harmanjot Khabra, Jeje, Stiven Mendoza, Bruno Pelissari.

6:45pm: Last season, it was 19 points which led to the booking of the semi-final spot. This season, even 21 points doesn’t guarantee qualification (mathematically), albeit the probability that the team with 21 points won’t qualify is quite low. If Delhi wins against Chennaiyin, they will go top of the table with 21 points. Having played only 10 games and with their final 2 fixtures at home, where they are unbeaten this season, Delhi certainly are firm favourites to qualify for the semis.

6:40pm: The table toppers of last season are in a danger of not even qualifying for the play-offs this time around. However, they won comfortably against Kerala Blasters and it should give them some much needed confidence for the upcoming matches. With the discernible lack of draws this season, last year’s qualification benchmark of 19 points looks under serious threat. Thus, it is almost imperative for Chennai to win their match against the well placed Dynamos.

6:35pm: The Super Machans have not won in any of the three previous meetings between the two teams. Last season, they were hammered 4-1 away from home before managing a draw in the reverse fixture. This season, a Chicao penalty was enough to secure all three points for The Lions. So, can Chennaiyin FC avoid Roberto Carlos and his men from doing the double over them? Or will they win their second match on the trot at home for the first time this season?

Having lost thrice in their last four matches and the chances of advancing to the play-offs hanging by a thread, Chennaiyin FC take on a confident Delhi Dynamos in their must-win game of the Indian Super League football on Tuesday.

The visitors have been the best team of the season so far and with only two losses out of their 10 matches, sit pretty on the third spot.

A win tonight will see them jump to the top of the table and also extend their record to a 6-match unbeaten streak.