I-League 2009-10: Late strike denies victory for Viva Kerala

Lajong might have started the game as slight favorites but it was visitors Viva Kerala who were asking all the questions.

The side from Kerala tested Gumpe Rime several times in the first half but the HAL goalkeeper was up to the challenge as he didn’t allow anything to go past him.

Viva failed to make the most of their domination as Lajong weathered the storm and started getting more into the game.

Close to the half hour mark Lajong could have taken the lead had in-form striker Seikhohao Tuboi passed the ball to his strike partner Anil Gurung but instead the Army man decided to shoot and missed the target.

The home side hit the woodwork just before half time when Liberian James Gbilee’s freekick hit the bar.

There were not many chances in the early stages of the second period but both teams were looking to be more ambitious.

The opening goal of the game came in the 63rd minute when Viva playmaker MP Sakeer forced a save from Gumpe Rime but the Lajong keeper didn’t hold on to the ball which allowed midfielder Siarjuddeen to pounce on the rebound and find the back of the net.

Viva couldn’t add a second and as the game went on started sitting a little deep. While Lajong put more bodies upfront in search of the equalizer.

Defender Daniel Bedemi was playing as a striker in the latter stages but Viva were limiting the north eastern club to very few opportunities.

However Lajong eventually did score in the 90th minute when Anil Gurung headed home a Tuboi cross to salvage one point for the hosts.

The draws keeps both teams in the bottom half of the table but Viva move out of the relegation zone at the expense of Air India who lost 1-3 against Dempo in another round nine encounter on Saturday.

Goalscorers: C. Sirajuddeen (Viva Kerala) 63’, Anil Gurung (Shillong Lajong) 90’

Source: Goal.com

Yellow Cards:
Viva Kerala: Rueben Senyo, Bello Rasaq
Lajong: Seikhohao Tuboi

Teams:
Viva Kerala: Shahinlal Meloly, K Noushad, Bello Rasaq, Charles Dzisah, VV Surjit, T Karma, Patrick Sisupalan, MP Sakeer (Captain), C Sirajudeen, Rueben Senyo, VK Shibinlal (KP Anish 53').
Coach: AM Sreedharan

Lajong: Gumpe Rime, Ailand Kynta, Daniel Bedemi, Wailadmi Passah, Aibor Khongjee (Captain), Niwan-o-Gatpoh, James Giblee, Samson Ramengmawia, Romeo Sukhlein, Seikhohao Tuboi, Anil Gurung.
Coach: Stanley Rozario

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Saturday 9 January 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.