MATCH REPORT: NEROCA beat Indian Arrows, inch closer to second spot on I-League table
AN OWN GOAL saw Arrows getting a setback early. Towards the end Chidi scored the second to seal the game for NEROCA.
Was not the best of starts for the young boys at home. Arrows defence missed to communicate and a scramble had Anwar Ali’s header put the ball in the back of his own net. Close to the half hour mark. A moment of brilliance from Williams saw an ambitious attempt by him. From the half time, he sees Prabhsukhan off his line and went for goal from half line. The keeper was back tracking and tips it over the bar just in time.
Williams dictated the play for NEROCA. He spread the ball wide left to Chidi who headed it in the path of Subhash Singh in the box. Subhash made space his shot from the right side of goal going for the top corner but just missed the target.
Arrow had their best moment when some great passing moves saw Edmund had the ball in the box on the right side. He pulled a defender with him and put the ball in the space between the goal line and Rahim Ali. The ball was just ahead of the stretched leg of Rahim.
Just before half time, Chidi was again involved in an attack. Long ball in the box had the keeper and defender beaten with his touch. The ball was rolling towards an empty net but was cleared just in time.
Arrows had made two changes in the second half. Jadhav and Sarkar were brought on. There was more urgency from the home team. NEROCA keeper made a risky clearance when he came to the touchline. Stalin from the quick throw-in tried to score before the keeper reached back to his goal. But Stalin's shot is way off target. Stalin would get another chance to score when a spell of pressure ended with Stalin’s shot from the left side but the keeper’s safe hand behind it once again. Subhash, who was great on the left, nutmegged Rahul to send in a good cross. Arrows’ defence was in the right position to clear the danger. Arrows started committing more boys forward and there was a danger of being hit on the counter. And in the last minute of added time, it happened. Chidi picked up the rebound off Prabhsukhan’s save and he scored the second goal to seal the game.
