Shillong: Indian Arrows produced a dominant performance to secure a 3-0 victory over Shillong Lajong in a 12th round I-League match at the JLN Stadium here Sunday.
Arrows kept pressing hard and were soon rewarded in the 18th minute, when Vikram Pratap’s excellent header from an Ashish Rai cross found the back of the net, helping the visitors take a crucial lead in the game.
Arrows continued with their attacks and were again rewarded in the 32nd minute when a Pratap pass was brilliantly collected by Lalengmawia, who made no mistake in giving his side a two-goal lead in the game. Lajong made a few attempts again, breaching the Arrows defence line on a couple of occasions but a great show by goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill ensured that the visitors do not concede a goal.
Arrows showcased their dominance further when they fired the third goal in the final seconds of injury time of the first half. Ninthoi found the back of the net from a rebound after a Lalengmawia shot was beautifully saved by Shillong keeper Neithovilie.
The second half began with Lajong introducing Phrangki Buam into the attack. This resulted in more attacks from the hosts but Arrows, known for their strong defence, ensured that Lajong did not get close to creating any trouble for them.
While Arrows also pressed hard as the second half progressed, the Lajong defenders denied them any clear chance to score. Lajong, on the other hand missed some really close chances. Optea failed to find the back of the net in the 74th minute and then Buam failed to connect with the ball inside the box.