FULL TIME | Pune FC vs Viva Kerala

Final Score:

Pune FC 3 - 1 Viva Kerala

Goals

Raman Patrick Sisupalan 54' ( Viva)

Edmar Figuiera 21', 24' (Pune FC)

Kutymani 9' (Pune FC)

Edmar Figueira fired in two quick goals early in the first half after Kutti Mani had opened the account as Pune FC scored its second home win beating Viva Kerala 3-1 in the ONGC I-League match at the Balewadi Sports Complex here on Wednesday.

For the Brazilian forward Edmar it was long due to score his first goal at home after being a prolific scorer in the away matches. And, on Wednesday evening Edmar showed he was just unlucky so far not to have managed a goal in home matches.

The win propelled Pune FC to fifth position in the I-League table having garnered 31 points. Pune FC will thank JCT Mills as they beat Chirag United 1-0. Chirag is also on 31 but have negative goal difference.

Viva begn emphatically and looked to be better side in the initial exchanges, but Edmar and fellow striker Jeje Lalpekhlua combined early on to give Viva a scare when they really stretched Shahinlal Meloly  wide and make a save in the seventh minute.

Soon after Arata headed on an Edmar pass but Meloly came good again. But the tempo had been built and Pune FC grabbed the opportunity when Kutti Mani put the home side ahead in the 10th minute. It was Izumi Arata who moved up from the left and crossed back. Amazingly it missed three Viva defenders and landed at the feet of Kutti Mani, who finished off with a powerful shot.

Five minutes later Jeje took a swipe from 30 yards but the ball flew over the bar and soon after Jeje was brought down inside the box resulting in a penalty in favour of the home side. Edmar made no mistake and his grounder had Meloly dive the other side as Pune FC took 2-0 lead in the 20th minute. Charged up Pune FC struck soon after when Edmar collected a fine cross from Sergey Tokov before finishing it with a header in the 24th minute.

Down 0-3, Viva tried to keep the ball in possession desperately and made a few good moves through Raman Sisupalan and Rahul P from the left wing. In the 33rd minute Sakeer MP and Sirajudeen C moved up from the right flank and sent a cross in the centre to give Pune FC ‘keeper Subrata Paul some scare. Till then he wasn’t tested. Then Ruben Senyo’s wild shot woke up complacent looking Pune FC defence.

Second half began and it seemed the home team was happy with the lead and into defensive mode. That was a mistake no doubt as Viva reduced the margin only three minutes into the session. It was sloppy goal as Paul made horrendous mistake by allowing the ball go over his shoulder when Raman was right in front of him.

Karma T had sent a cross from the right and Raman saw Paul fumbling and somehow got his foot to the ball which rolled into the net. Soon after there was a mad scramble at the Pune FC box, but the danger was averted.
Two wake up calls were enough for Pune FC to junk their defensive approach despite the handy lead and began attacking Viva net again.

Sergey and Lal Rozama had one in their wake in the 75th minute but Rozama was caught in an offside trap. Three minutes later Douhou Pierre scooped one into the box for Rozama, who shot good, but Meloly came up with a stunning save.

With 10 minutes remaining, Pune FC coach pulled out Edmar and introduced Othallo Tabia more as a precautionary measure than anything. Edmar had done his job for the day and he would be needed in the next encounter when Pune FC travel to Cooperage in Mumbai to play Mahindra United.

Source: The AIFF

From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Wednesday 21 April 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.