Viva Kerala’s poor run of form continues as they lost to Mumbai FC in the Round 23 of the ONGC I-League 2009-10 at their home ground. Foreign defender Evans Quao scored the winner for the Mumbai side in the 26th minute of the play.
Viva Kerala were lackluster throughout the match except for a few opportunities in the either halves.
The match began with a golden opportunity for the home team to take the lead. Viva Kerala winger T Karma’s shot was not held properly by Mumbai FC custodian Nidhin Lal and Anish KP tried to take advantage as he headed the ball into the goal. Fortunately for Mumbai FC, their defender was there to make save off the line.
18th minute saw Sirajudeen C free in front of the keeper, but Nidhin Lal saved the day for Mumbai FC as he made the ball his bravely. Mumbai FC’s first major move came after twenty minutes when Subhash Chakraborthy crosses in from the right to Bashiru Mohammed Abbas. This time it was Viva Kerala keeper Sharath K who stole the show for his side. Bashiru Abbas was later substituted in the first half as he received a blow which made him unconscious. The player joined his teammates in the dugout in the second half.
The all important and the only goal of the game came from Evans Quao in the 26th minute. Evans succesfully got past the Kerala defense and fired in a quick shot which beat Sharath K. Second chance for Viva came only in the injury time of first half as Karma T who was found by Patrick Sisupalan from outside the box crossed in for Anish KP. Anish missed the chance to head and the crowd turned furious.
Viva Kerala began second half with a string of attacks, but were unable to produce a proper chance till 20 minutes of second half was played. Right back Noushad joined the attack and crossed the ball to Karma who was umnarked in the box. Karma couldn’t reach fro the ball in time and the chance was squandered.
In the next minute, Reuben Senyo got past Anas Edathodika and tried a shot from long range. Goal keeper Nidhin Lal did excellently well to keep the ball away from the goal.
Indian International striker Abhishek Yadav returned to action after a long set off with injury as he came on as a substitute in the second half. Striker managed to get past Noushad K for an open goal, but Charles Dzisah was alert to get the ball from him.
Viva Kerala made all three substitutions in the second half and all of them were an attacking player coming on for a defense minded one. But the team couldn’t combine well to break the well organised defense of Mumbai FC and eventually lost 1-0 to them which made the relegation battle even more tighter and harder.
Nidhin Lal AC was adjudged Man of the Match in a highly physical encounter at the EMS Stadium. Viva Kerala will now face Lajong FC on May 4th who watched today’s match from the stands.
Courtesy: The AIFF
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Saturday 1 May 2010, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.