Viva Kerala and Chirag United played a 1-1 draw at the Salt Lake Stadium, Kolkata in the last game of the 2010-11 season of the Indian professional football league. Viva Kerala needed at least a point to ensure their place in the next season's I-League and they seemed to be ending the season with all three points for most part of the match.
In the 30th minute, Anil Kumar PK looked to have opened the scoring for the Kerala club, but only to be disallowed by the assistant referee for offside. Four minutes later, Sajesh P almost scored but Chirag custodian did well to put hte ball out for a corner.
After a goalless first half, Indian international midfielder NP Pradeep gave the away side the lead with just two minutes into the second period of play. The midfield general guided home a free kick warded to Viva Kerala in the 47th minute. Pradeep was later declared man of the match.
Chirag United went into the attack after conceding, and it was Sunil Chhetri who found the equalizer for the Kerala club in the 81st minute as he tapped in a cross from Sukhen Dey.
Viva Kerala finished the season with 27 points from 26 matches. They have won a total of 6 matches, drawn 9 and lost in 11 matches. They have scored 25 goals and conceded 43 in the 2010-11 league campaign. Anil Kumar was the top scorer for the club with 11 goals. The team are now at the 10th spot, with Air India and JCT Mills FC below them having their last match to be played.
Team Lists:
Chirag United: Abhijit (Goal Keeper), Bapi, Arnab, Chika, Sukhen Dey, Lalkamal Bhomwick, Denson Devdas, Sankar, Tulunga, Joshimar da Silva, Sunil Chhetri
Viva Kerala: Sarath K (Goal Keeper), Charles Dzisah, Bello Razzaq (Captain), Karma T, Sherin Sam, NP Pradeep, Faizal T, Chinta Chandrashekar, Jimshad U, Felix Chimaokwu, Anil Kumar PK
From the archive. First published on footballkerala.com on Sunday 29 May 2011, restored from the site's 2012 database. Text as originally published.