Indian Arrows hope to leapfrog defending champions Minerva Punjab

Indian Arrows would look to register their fifth win of the season when they meet a struggling Minerva Punjab FC in their I-League match here on Tuesday.

If the developmental side of the All India Football Federation can pull off a win at their 'home' venue Kalinga Stadium, they will leapfrog the defending champions from Punjab and move up to a creditable seventh spot on the points table.

Minerva Punjab had beaten the Arrows by a solitary goal in the first leg fixture more than two months ago, but the youngsters under coach Floyd Pinto have found a semblance of consistency in performance since then.

The Arrows now lie ninth on the table with 13 points from 15 games and a win on Tuesday would take them clear of seventh-placed Minerva and eighth-placed Aizawl FC (both have 14 points from 14 games).

Minerva's problems have been compounded by the fact that they have not won in eight games in two months, and have scored just once in that period. They go into Tuesday's game after shock ...