Orji strike takes Blasters to third place in ISL

Delhi Dynamos FC's poor run in the Indian Super League (ISL) continued as they lost to Kerala Blasters FC through midfielder Penn Orji's solitary goal at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here Sunday.

The Nigerian came in as a substitute to fire in the match winner with a low shot in the second half.

The visitors march up to third place in the table with 12 points while the hosts stay rooted to the bottom with seven.

The Dynamos came out all guns blazing in the first half realising that they needed an early goal to take control of the game.

They kept possession for long periods and created a few chances but were unable to find the much-needed goal.

Italian World Cupper Alessandro Del Piero returned to the starting eleven and was at the heart of most Delhi attacks.

The away side sat back and defended, relying solely on counter-attack.

Sandesh Jhingan was again the main outlet for the South Indian outfit as he bombed up and down the right wing.

The best chance of the half came when Mads Junker put in an excellent cross from the right.

Del Piero ran to it and headed goalwards but to his chagrin, his colleague Adil Khan, who also made a run, came in the way.

The ball lobbed up and Cedric Hengbart in Kerala was on hand to clear the danger.

The chances came thick and fast for both teams in the second half.

The home side were the more attacking of the two as they pushed forward to break the deadlock.

Kerala's Iain Hume was a nuisance to the hosts as he created havoc in Delhi's half with his dangerous runs.

In the 61st minute, Hume stole the ball from left-back Shouvik Ghosh and played it brilliantly across for Orji who had come in as a 56th minute substitute.

The Nigerian took an excellent first touch and slotted it past Kristof Van Hout under the Delhi bar.

Even the introduction of the mesmeric Gustavo Dos Santos wasn't enough for the hosts to pull a goal back as they slipped to their second defeat at home and fourth straight overall.