Kerala football news

I League 2010: Viva Kerala Defeats Dempo SC, grabs 3 valuable points

Viva Kerala made a surprise result by defeating top of the table Dempo Sports Club in front of a large home crowd at the EMS Stadium, Calicut on Monday evening.

Reuben Senyo overpowered Cresson Antao to head in a cross from his strike partner Nishad KP who came on as a substitute in the first half. Dempo players were shocked by the goal which was scored in the 42nd minute and never were able to give a reply for it.

Viva Kerala played attacking football through out the match and almost took the lead in the 25th minute. Anish K cut into the penalty box after getting around Antao and took a shot which rolled past the goal. In the next minute, Reuben Senyo headed over an excellent cross from the left delivered by Rahul. Anish who was suffering from an ankle strain prior to the match was taken off in the 37th minute and replaced by Nishad who was the assist for the winning goal.

First half didn’t see much of Dempo with the ball as Viva defenders VV Surjith, Charles Dzisah and Bello Razaq made sure that Dempo players like Sunil Chethri, Ranti Martins and Climax Lawrence did not have much time on the ball to create an attacking move.

Reuben Senyo found himself with just the keeper to beat in front of the goal in the 55th minute, but he delayed his shot and defender was able to make a block with his leg. In the resulting corner, Siraj shot the ball over the wood work. In the 59th minute, Nishad and Reuben combined once again but this time the Ghanaian forward couldn’t convert the cross into a goal.

Armando Colaco brought in Beto in place of Clifford Miranda, in search of a goal, in the 65th minute. Viva coach AM Sreedharan seemed to have learned from his last adventure agianst Dempo and continued attacking in second half. Viva Kerala took the lead against eEmpo at Goa and kept the lead till the 70th minute before going down 3-1.

Dempo only looked dangerous in the last 10 minutes of the play. Sunil Chethri took a ground shot that was saved by Viva custodian Sarath K. But their efforts didn’t bear any fruit as Viva Kerala took full points from a match which many predicted would have been a very tough game for the Kerala team.

Viva coach AM Sreedharan was full of joy after the match and warned other teams of Viva Kerala. Reuben Senyo took the man of the match award in this game.

Source: THE AIFF

Venue: EMS Memorial Stadium Calicut
Score: Viva Kerala 1 – 0 Dempo
Goal Scorers
Reuben Senyo 41′ (Viva Kerala)