The defending champions left it late to register their first three points at home this season

Philip Njoku's 74th minute goal was the difference as Minerva Punjab edged past Indian Arrows 1-0 in an 2018-19 I-League clash at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium in Gurgaon, on Saturday afternoon.

The win takes the defending champions level on point with Mohun Bagan (8) as Minerva break into the top five after six games while the Arrows languish at the bottom with three points from four matches.

The home side's technical director, Paul Munster, made three changes from his side that lost 1-0 against Gokulam Kerala as new signing Jorge Caicedo was handed his I-League debut while Akash Sangwan and Thoiba Singh all came in place of Deepak Devrani, Akashdeep Singh and Jagpreet Singh.

The visitors' coach Floyd Pinto also made a couple of alterations after the 2-0 loss against Real Kashmir as Suresh Singh and Sanjeev Stalin replaced Lalengmawia and K Meetei.

The young Indian side tried to create a few chances but had no shots on target as compared to just the one by the hosts in the first half. That was in the 29th minute when Donatus Edafe squared it from the left to Akash Sangwan. Heavily marked, the latter set up Thoiba Singh, whose shot from distance was tipped over by Prabhsukhan Gill.

William Opoku too came close from scoring late in the half, other than which the Arrows defended resolutely but didn't manage to test the Minerva goalkeeper even once.Rahul KP eventually forced Arshdeep Singh into pulling off his first save a few minutes in the second half when the could not beat the Minerva custodian from close range following a Sanjeev Stalin corner.

Goals were not allowed at either ends around the hour mark. Njoku was deemed to foul Gill before the ball landed in the goal while the off-side flag saved the hosts when Rahul found the back of the net.

Rahul went on to miss another opportunity in the 69th minute after moving into the box from the left with his attempt it going past the far post by inches and three minutes later, Arshdeep was lucky to effect a save after an awkward bounce from Vikram Singh's shot came off his head.

Minerva Punjab finally broke the deadlock in the 74th minute from Opoku's flag-kick that was knocked back in by Caceido from the far side with a clueless Arrows defense allowing Njoku to slot the ball at the back of the net.