made a surging run down the left before cutting the ball back for Lalrinzuala, whose deft flick found Mohammed Arshaf in space. Jithin and Lalrinzuala continued to interchange fluently, stretching the Bodoland backline, although defenders Gaurav Bohara, Urjoy Brahma and Didwm Hazowary stood firm to deny the defending champions an early breakthrough. Ajaraie grabbed his second just nine minutes later after Macarton Louis Nickson's delivery confused the Bodoland penalty area. The Highlanders continued to attack relentlessly. Bodoland continued to battle despite the scoreline, with experienced defender Shubham Sarangi making several important interventions to disrupt NorthEast attacks in midfield.