ISL: Gustavo sucker punch helps Delhi beat Pune 1-0, climb to fourth spot

Pune: Gustavo dos Santos stunned FC Pune City by weaving past his marker and finishing from a tight angle in the 87th minute to give Delhi Dynamos a priceless 1-0 win — lifting them to fourth in a tight Indian Super League table. It was a fitting goal from the 20-year-old in a match which saw plenty of chances — which were either wasted by profligate attackers or saved brilliantly by the two goalkeepers. It was the Brazilian’s fourth goal and had all the characteristics which define his play and justify his selection ahead of the legendary Alessandro del Piero. Pune will go back from their last home league game thinking they should have got at least a point from the match after seeing the best chances fall to them. Jermaine Pennant sped down the right in the 35th minute before cutting in and smacking a shot between his marker’s feet and straight onto the post — and moments later Kostas Katsouranis released Dudu with a lovely first time through ball which the Nigerian chested down before hitting it straight at Van Hout when he could have calmly slotted it in. [caption id=“attachment_1837605” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Gustavo scored in the 87th minute to give Delhi the win. ISL[/caption] The striker missed another gilt-edged chance when Seidou Mady’s cross was headed down by Jermaine Pennant in Dudu’s path only for him to blaze over uncharacteristically. Dudu was in the middle again when a difficult chance fell to him in the 93rd minute while chasing the game — his header wide, just like the rest of his attempts. Kostas, who wasn’t in his element on the night, then missed a header from six yards out after a glorious cross from Park had found him unmarked and on the run. That was not the only header he missed though. Right back Wadoo picked him out in the 83rd minute and this time the Greek international couldn’t even connect properly. Pune’s man between the sticks Arindam Bhattacharya may have conceded from an angle he shouldn’t have — and his tendency to punch caused his own defence some trouble and a communication mix-up with Mehraj Wadoo almost resulted in a chance for Delhi. But he also came to Pune’s rescue when needed — brilliantly saving when Shylo Malsawmtluanga was put through on goal by Mads Junker in the 54th minute and then blocking a Junker shot from a tight angle two minutes later. But it was not just the hosts who were creating chances. Delhi Dynamos had managed to trouble Arindam throughout the first half by pumping crosses into the box. The visitors, especially dangerous at set-pieces, could have taken the lead when a glancing header from a Gustavo corner reached Junker — who could not divert the ball into the net from a few yards away. Arindam was called into action again when Gustavo slipped past a defender and sent a stinging shot which the goalkeeper palmed away at full stretch. In contrast to the first half against Mumbai City FC in their previous match, Pune lacked the energy and intention to press on the ball — they weren’t passing the ball enough and their wingers Park Kwang-il and Pennant were deprived of service in the first 45. Instead, they roved the channels whenever Kostas received the ball, looking to find an intelligent run through an organised Delhi defence. Park got through on one such occasion and was about to pull the trigger when Adil Khan put in an inch-perfect tackle to steal the ball at the last moment. Adil put in a great shift at right back for Delhi, who broke dangerously through Gustavo and Junker — and got their goal at a time when Pune had nothing left in the tank. Maybe this win has also come at the perfect time — providing them with a one-point cushion in the fight for fourth place.