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An own goal from Arrows’ Pritam Kotal early in the 6th minute set the tone for the hosts as they went on to enhance their lead through Eric Brown and F. Lalmuanpuia in the 30th and 67th minutes respectively. But Liberian midfielder Brown was given marching orders for stamping on Pritam Kotal in the 68th minute.
ONGC were lucky to take the early lead as Yusa Katsumi’s corner was deflected off Pritam Kotal’s right-foot into the back of his own teams net. The home side were pressing from the word go earning their first flag kick in the very first minute. The goal was in fact their third corner in the opening minutes.
The All India Football Federation developmental side gauged the tempo of the game and sat deep to pounce on the counter. But it was one of those days for Arthur Papas and his boys when nothing went their way. It was a strong Eric Brown who doubled the tally on the half hour mark, realising a brilliant cross from Man of the Match Sachin Gawas to head home expertly.
Still the Pailan Arrows had their moments too. In the 41st minute, Kotal’s clearance from the heart of Arrows’ rearguard was beautifully trapped by Alwyn George to set-up Holicharan Narzary whose shot across the face of goal sailed over the bar. Of Rajinder Singh’s spadework in the dying minutes of the first half, Prabir Das shot wide, much to Papas’s dismay.
One minute after F Lalmuanpuia virtually put the match to bed in the 67th minute with the 3-0, Brown was sent off for stamping on Pritam Kotal. The Pailan Arrows tried to seize the opportunity in the final third of the match but it just wasn’t their day.
