In a practice match held at the Corporation Stadium, Calicut on Saturday, I League competitors Viva Kerala defeated Universal Soccer School, Calicut 5-0 with 4 of the goals coming in the second half of the game.
Viva Kerala started with Patrick Sisupalan playing at the center of the defense alongside Bello Razzaq. Charles Dzisah missed the match with a minor injury which won't be much of a problem in the I League match against the Kolkata side Chirag United. Captain MP Sakeer played in the center of the midfield with Bimal Birua joining him on the right wing.
Viva seemed poor in the early stages of the match and couldn't find a way into the penalty box of the Universal team. The right back K Noushad was disappointing, however, the first chance on goal for Viva Kerala was when he met a cross from the left of the field. But the ball went over the crossbar.
I League side's foreign striker Reuben Senyo was silent through out the first half except for a shot which he hit straight into the hands of the Universal Goal Keeper. Viva's coach AM Sreedharan said that the foreign players haven't yet gelled with the team. The coach will be surely looking forward to the Thai striker Wisoot Bunpeng who will be in the city within 2 days.
When it looked like both teams will share the scores at the half time, Bimanyu Bimal Birua took a shot from outside the penalty box which kissed the net with the help of a deflection from an opponent. Yet, one could see that the local side, Universal Soccer School were the better of the 2 sides in the first half.
Sreedharan replaced Sakeer who had a good game with P Rahul in the half time. Bimal Birua made way for T Karma. Viva Kerala seemed a completely different team in the second half. Reuben Senyo doubled the score with a header from a cross in the early minutes of the second half.
Karma who was the best player for Viva today, scored with another header a few minutes after the second went in. Score 3-0 and Viva Kerala were running away with the match. Reuben again found his name in the score sheets after a good build up play from the Viva Kerala players.
Universal Soccer Club were creating a few chances for themself when Viva Kerala were scoring at the opposite end. Reuben Senyo was brought down at the edge of the box, but referee decided it as a penalty. VV Surjith walked in to take the spot kick and converted with cool head.
After the match, AM Sreedharan expressed his satisfaction with the teams performance. But there are areas were the team can improve. The Coach told that they are hoping to perform very well in the home matches at Kozhikode and was confident that he will have the backing of the fans. He assured that his team will be attacking from the word go in the match against Chirag United.
Viva Kerala 5-0 Universal Soccer School Goal Scorers: Bimal Birua, Reuben Senyo (2), T Karma, VV Surjith (Penalty)
Adwaidh R writes for footballkerala.com
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Saturday 17 October 2009, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.