Kerala football news

Nailing down Viva Kerala’s hope to advance into 9 th position, Pune FC clinched a 3-0 win against the `Neelapada’ in the I League match held at the EMS Memorial Stadium in Kozhikode. Japanese-born striker Arata Izumi scored twice in the game to grab three decisive points for Pune FC.

Viva once again proved their scoring inabilities as it was them who dominated most of the time in the game. Pune FC beautifully turned their only two best chances in the first seventy minutes into goals while Viva squandered their sure-goal chances recklessly.

The first goal came from a long through pass from Malayalee Player Othallo Tabia to Arata Izumi and he finished it with a nice header through the right side in the 11 th minute of the game and making the Viva custodian Shahinlal Meloly a mere spectator.

Viva tried to score back as Viva skipper bestowed the ball to the forward where all the chances ended up in vain efforts. Shibinlal considerably failed in finishing and pace while Reuben  Senyo tried hard to crack the Pune defends.

With the Pune FC midfield playing up to the mark and keeping with the pace of the game, Viva attacks could not find any chances to accomplish their aim. Some good and near-goal efforts by Karma – Marzook – Sisupalan in the left flank were stopped excellently by the Pune FC custodian Subrato Paul. Also in the other side, Rahul – Reuben – Surjith teamed-up to crack the invincible national goalie.

In the 54 th minute, against the wave of the game, Izumi headed the ball into the net from a  fine cross from former Indian skipper Shanmugan Venkitesh and muted Viva’s chance to win or draw the match. After the goal, Pune FC started to take some stake in the match. Viva still tried desperately for a goal by fielding in Anish K P and Indian under-19 Amarwant Singh for  Partrick Sisupalan  and Karma T respectively.

Pune FC’s job was completed by their Uzbek-recruit Sergey Topov in the 90 th minute. Viva will vie Air India on January 28 in their next home match in I league.

Final Score:

Viva Kerala 0-3 Pune FC

Goals: Arata Izumi (12′ & 54′), Sergey Totov (90′)

Venue: EMS Memorial stadium, Calicut

Teams:

Viva Kerala:

Starting Eleven:Shahinlal Meloly (GK), Mohammed Marsook, Charles Dzisah, Bello Rasaq, Surjith VV, T Karma, Raman Patrick Sisupalan, MP Sakeer (Captain), Rahul P, Reuben Senyo, Shibinlal VK

Substitutes: Sajesh P, Jain P Raj, Ahamed Malik, Anish KP,Amarwant Singh, Nishad KP, Sharath K

Coach: AM Sreedharan

Assistant Coach: Bino George

Manager: Prasanthan K

Physio: Anas K

Pune Football Club:

Starting Eleven: Subrata Paul (GK), Othallo Tabia, Selwyn Fernandes, Rahul K, Shanmugam Venkitesh (Captain), Arata Izumi, Edmar Figueira, Douhou Pierre, Vignesh Gunasekhar, Sergey Totov, Godwin Franco

Substitutes: Kuttymani, Balaji Narasimhan, Aneesh Koraliyadan, Sunil kumar, Asim Hassan, Rollinson Hungyo, Muthu Patchakannu

Coach: Derrick Perreira

Assistant Coach: Mahesh Lotlikar

Manager: B Ashok Kumar

Physio: Tariq Shaikh