Rahul K.P. scored for Arrows in the first half. Trinidadian striker Marcu Leric Joseph’s second half goal denied Arrows a repeat result of the previous leg. It was his fourth goal in as many games.

The game was a dour affair as both teams played without inspiration. The fact that both teams are already out of the reckoning for the title must have contributed to it.

Gokulam is 10th in the league table after 16 games and Arrows is on seventh after 18 games.

Floyd Pinto’s Arrows made four changes to their starting XI from the previous game. They brought back Prabhsukan Gill in goal for Samik Mitra who had started in the game against Chennai.

Deepak Tangri, Rahim Ali and Rahul KP replaced Jitendra Singh, Suresh Singh, and Ninthoi in the playing XI.

Gokulam under the tutelage of Technical Director Gift Raikhan made only one change, with Suhair replacing Brazilian midfielder Guilherme Castro.

Arrows withstood early pressure from Gokulam and took the lead in the 22nd minute through Rahul K.P.

Ashish Rai delivered the cross from the right flank to Rahim Ali positioned inside the box, wide on the left. Rahim brought down a cushioned header towards Rahul, who made a run from the middle of the box. The ball landed to Rahul who had to check his run with his back towards goal. He swiveled and volleyed on the turn to beat keeper Arnab Das Sharma all ends up.

Arrows took the one-goal lead into the break.

Gokulam got the equalizer in the 64th minute through Joseph — the top scorer of the Trinidadian pro-league.

Substitute Arjun Jayaraj made the initial foray with a run down the left of the box. His ball intended for Marcus was cut-off by the Arrows defence. It came back off a defender and fell to Joseph who drilled the ball home with a left-footed strike.

Fabian denied Arrows the second goal in the 70th minute with a brilliant goalline save.

Joseph — the ‘Hero of the Game’ — missed a golden chance to win the game in the dying moments.

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Vikram Pratap Singh (18th minute), Lalengmawia (32nd minute) and Ninthoi (45 + 3 minutes) scored for Arrows.

Arrows pressed hard right from the start and went on the offensive.

They constantly troubled the Lajong defence but were found wanting for a good finish.

Such was the nature of Arrows’ early blitz that it took Lajong a while to regroup!

Lajong missed a great chance to score when Kitrboklang fluffed his lines in the 11th minute.

Arrows opened the scoring when Singh’s superb header found the back of the net in the 18th minute.

Aashish Rai provided the assist with a fine cross!

Shillong for all of their efforts couldn’t go past the strong Arrows defence.

Arrows scored again when Lalengmawia hit home off Singh’s pass in the 32nd minute.

Credit to Arrows goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill who denied Lajong a comeback goal.

Arrows made it 3-0 at the end of the first half when Ninthoi found the back of the net from a rebound.

Though Lajong introduced Phrangki Buam in the second-half it didn’t work as the Arrows’ back-line held firm.

The home team did create a few chances but were denied a fourth goal by Lajong.

A focused Lajong defence kept the bristling Arrows strike-force at bay in the second-half.

Optea and Buam failed to score off a simple chance in the 74th minute. A goal then would have given Lajong a glimmer of hope!

Arrows dominated the game throughout while defensive lapses cost Lajong the game.

Lalengmawia was adjudged the ‘Hero of the Match’.

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