Vasco: An early own goal and that combined with Felix Chico’s late winner ensured Neroca FC extend their unbeaten run to eight games, with another 2-0 victory over Indian Arrows at the Tilak Stadium here on Tuesday.
It kept them on third but just one point behind second-placed East Bengal who have played a game more. Arrows despite the defeat too maintain their position in seventh with 10 points from 11 fixtures.
The game was yet to get in flow when Anwar Ali’s silly error gave the debutants an important lead in the 18th minute. The defender headed a Gopi Singh cross straight into Arrows goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill, that went into an empty net with Gill nowhere close to the ball. This was after Rahul Kannoly squandered the home team’s first chance that went above the bar.
10 minutes later, Anwar’s mispass could have proved costly a second time. But Glen Williams who, after spotting Gill off his line, attempted a belter from the half-line mark failed to beat the Arrows custodian. Neroca had plenty of chances as opportunities came thick and fast with Arrows unable to hold on to the ball.
Jitendra Singh was at hand to make a goal-line clearance after Felix nearly scored on the right, when Israilov had found him with a pass.
But Norton de Matos’ double substitution at the start of second-half nearly turned the game in Arrows favour with Aniket Jadhav and Abhijit Sarkar combining well and could have found the net, but hit the sidenetting instead.
Neroca who had defeated the Arrows 2-1 back at home built on the pressure eventually coming close to scoring two, but first Singam Subash Singh’ went above the bar, before Chidi hit straight at Gill from a goal-melee distance.
The Arrows meanwhile worked hard, but lack of speed in the attacking third meant they remain satisfied with a single point something Matos had pointed out as the preformance of the little colts. While Arrows failed to win, Chidi ensured an easy win making it 2-0 for the visitors.
If was from another long ball that Chidi scored from, after Jitendra and Gill failed to spot the latter’s run and Chidi made no mistake from close-range shot.