Penalty killed the game: Materazzi

Chennaiyin FC player-manager and Italian world cupper Marco Materazzi Saturday said Bruno Herrero Arias' 79th minute spot kick was the decisive moment in his team's 1-4 loss against Delhi Dynamos in the Indian Super League (ISL) match at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here Saturday.

Goals from Belgian Wim Raymaekers (1st minute), Mads Junker of Denmark (21st), Spaniard Bruno Herrero Arias (79th) and Brazil youngster Gustavo Marmentini dos Santos (93rd) at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here, gave Delhi their first win in three matches.

Brazilian star Elano (69th) scored the consolation for Chennaiyin but it just wasn't enough.

"Sometimes when you lose after 4-1 it seems all bad but we played well in the second half and at 2-1 we were the better side. However the penalty killed the game," said Materazzi, who was famously headbutted in the chest by Zinedine Zidane in the 2006 FIFA World Cup final between Italy and France.

The Italian defender said the Dynamos got off the blocks quickly but the second half belonged to his team.

"I think they started the game very well and played with pace. We started the tournament well but now must bounce back in the next game," he said.

"People might think we are defensive but we had plenty of attacking players on the pitch like Elano, Balwant, Bruno and later Mendoza and Rane. So there was plenty of attacking force but it just didn't happen for us," the former Inter Milan star added.

Chennaiyin still hold third place courtesy two wins from three matches while Delhi, who have also played the same number of games, have five points and in fourth place.