Real Kashmir’s winless streak of three matches finally drew to an end with a 2-0 victory over Indian Arrows at the TRC Ground in Srinagar on Sunday.
Surchandra Singh and Bazie Armand were on target for the hosts as Kashmir registered their second victory in I-League having already upset defending champions Minerva Punjab in their opening league encounter. The next three matches produced a draw and two defeats and will three coming at home, the pressure was increasing on Kashmir’s first-ever top-tier team.
The victory took them to fifth in the table – Kashmir were ninth before this match – on seven points after five matches. Arrows remained at the bottom with just one win in four games.
Real Kashmir were on top right from the start, making menacing attacks into the Arrows’ box, who found it difficult to contain the home team. Arrows were also guilty of showing too much respect to their opponent – one that cost them in the previous match against Bagan – and eventually paid the price when Kashmir took the lead in the 25th minute.
Surchandra Singh, who made his first start in place of Kashmir’s most loved player Danish Farooq, scored from close range after Mason Robertson had found him with a lovely cross in the box having snatched it off Boris Singh.
Down by a goal, Arrows started showing more urgency in attacks but the midfield duo of Bazie Armand and Khalid Qayoom held fort leaving Amarjit Singh into looping long balls towards the opposition’s box that bore no fruit.
Surchandra was again at the centre of Kashmir’s second goal with Bazie scoring from a simple header after Singh’s corner was put down into his path by Danish Farooq.
Meanwhile, Arrows’ long-ball ploy took a dent with their forwards outmuscled by Robertson and Loveday Enyinnaya.
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