Viva Kerala produced a stunning display to draw level after going down 4-0 to Pune FC at the Balewadi Sports Complex in Pune. Anil Kumar was yet again Viva's hero after the striker opened the floodgate for his team and also scored the vital equalizer in the 80th minute of the game.
Pune FC took the lead early on through Edmar Figueira in the third minute as the Brazilian put the ball in to the back of the net from a penalty awarded to the home side. Pune FC capitalized on the early advantage and doubled the lead with Gurjinder Singh in the 19th minute and again scoring six minutes later with Mandjou Kieta to make the scoreline 3-0.
Former Indian International S Venkatesh made it 4-0 in favor of the home team, but Anil Kumar reduced the deficit by one goal before the half time break.
In the second half, Viva's Nigerian striker Felix Chimaokwu found the target with a spot kick in the 54th minute to make it 4-2. As the home side thought things were under control, Viva's captain Bello Razzaq scored the third in the 74th, making it a tense end to the game.
It was in the 80th minute, Anil Kumar found his brace and the equalizer for the Kerala side, making it the best comeback in the I-League so far this season.
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Saturday 26 February 2011, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.
Comments · 2
Hey Viva frnds catch the highlights of viva n pune by clicking tis link http://www.youtube.com/user/PFCTVonline#p/a/u/0/_mrdRxiqg9Q
Thanks for posting the link. It would be great for Viva to have highlights of their home matches, played under floodlights and on a good playing surface like Pune.
I think both teams must be upset with the referee. Neither penalties should have been given. Edmar won a free kick for a Pune goal but no player was near him when he went down. Perhaps there is a sniper in the Stadium. A Pune player put in a great tackle but got a yellow card then Chika falls over and wins a free kick despite Anil not even being close to him.
What an amazing comeback it is great to see Viva playing some good football, particularly Karma and Anil.