Vasco: Abhijit Sarkar’s extra-time brace pulled Indian Arrows out and up from the jaws of defeat to a 2-1 victory over Churchill Brothers at the Tilak Maidan here on Saturday.
The Kalyani born footballer, brought on as part of the double substitution that also saw Boris Singh enter the foray, made inroads into the match with a simple tap-in from Boris’ low-cross to level terms for the Arrows just 10 minutes after coming on.
Two minutes later, he pounced into a defensive lapse by Eldor to secure what was incredible comeback by the young lads, leaving Churchill bamboozled of what went wrong in the final few minutes.
Churchill coach Alfred Fernandes attributed it to be a “lapse in concentration” but for Matos the victory was the result of the hard work and the character his boys had shown despite going behind.
Dawda Ceesay had earlier put Churchill ahead, nodding in a Nicholas Fernandes cross in the 11 minute but Churchill after the goal squandered some easy chances and would later rue those as Sarkar moved to eight in the race for golden-boot.
The boy from Bengal has four goals this season and interestingly all four have come in the final 15 minutes and all as substitues.
As usual he was omitted from the opening line-up today but responded with a brace that lifted the Arrows to eighth, with 14 points from 15 games. Churchill with two less matches stand on 16 points and on the seventh in the 10-team table.
Neroca held to goalless draw
Neroca’s title ambitions took a big blow after another goalless draw against defending champions Aizawl FC at the Khuman Lampak Stadium.
It though kept them at second just a solitary point behind leaders Minerva Punjab but have played two matches more. Aizawl meanwhile remained sixth, on 17 points from 13 games.
Although it was a closely contested match both sides had enough chances to secure a victory but squandered all. Nedo Turkovic had a glaring opportunity for the debutants at the stroke of half-time when a cross from the right reached him unmarked but he failed to to tap-in from a goal-melee.
Felix Chidi then came close for Neroca late into the second-half but it was the same story, Lalrinmuana had however broken the deadlock on the 73rd minute but it was ruled out as an off-side as both sides shared the spoils.