Viva Kerala started the match with some good attacking football creating a lot of opportunities in the first half.
Noushad took a shot for Viva 5 minutes into the game which put Mahindra's Indian International goalkeeper Subhashis Roy Choudhary under some trouble. But the shot flying into the top left corner was punched away effectively.
Ten minutes later, Siraj put in a low cross into the box which Reuben left it to Sakeer. But his powerful drive from the top of box hits the crossbar on way out.
Viva had another great opportunity to score the very next minute when Patrick put a through pass to Karma who from the right put a low cross back to him. But Patrick's shot from close range too found the post on way out. At this stage with a little luck Viva would have had at least 2 goals to their name.
Paresh Sivalkar and Steven Dias on either wings were providing good play for Mahindra targeting Muri and Rafi. Charles did well by marking Muritala tightly.
Paresh found Rafi with a cross into the far post but his header off balance went off target.
In the 22nd minute, Reuben going for the ball was held off by Denzil Franco. Ghanaian striker lost his cool and was shown the first card of the game when he retaliated against the Mahindra player and kept on arguing with the referee.
Mahindra United got a good chance to score in the 37th minute. Steven Dias sent a curling ball into the crowd inside the box. Tamba did well to get high above and put his head onto the ball, but the ball went well wide off the post.
First half finished with Viva Kerala managing to create ample opportunities but characteristically failing to score.
Early into the second half Rahul took a knock at the back from Denzil Franco and had to be carried away to the hospital. Viva brought Anish KP to play as supporting striker to Rueben and shifting Siraj from attack to mid field.
In the 60th minute, Karma from the right gave the ball to Sakeer and continued his run and was picked up with a beautiful pass. Karma managed to find the net through the legs of Mahindra goalkeeper to give Viva Kerala hope of all 3 points.
Just after conceding, Mahindra made three substitutions, taking off Ajayan, Steven Dias and Debrata and bringing in Mijin, Thoi Singh and Ravanan. The substitutions found immediate effect on the match as Mahindra looked more like the team in the rest of the game.
Viva tried to slow down the tempo of the match but they could not find enough possession. The last twenty minutes of the game were testing times for the Viva defence providing some tense moments to a fairly large home supporters.
The mounting pressure on Viva defence ultimately cracked with just under 5 minutes before final whistle. Mahindra got a freekick in the Viva penalty area. Sharath saved initial header from Rafi but cannot hold it. Paresh headed the ball back in play and Tamba head the ball into the back of the net snatching a face saving draw for Mahindra.
***Final Score:
*** Viva Kerala 1-1 Mahindra United
Goals: Karma 61' – Tamba 86'
Man of the Match: Charles Dzisah
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Monday 22 March 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.