I-LEAGUE - The Home of India's Premier Football League

I-LEAGUE - The Home of India's Premier Football League

Municipal Corporation Stadium
at Calicut, Kerala || Kickoff: 16.00 IST

Referee
Francisco Fernandes (Goa)

Assistent Referees
Vijaya Kumar (Karnataka), Andrew Sekhar (Karnataka)

Fourth Officials
P Bhaskar (Tamil Nadu)

3	:	2

GOALS
1-0 Wisdom Abbey (52')
1-1 Bashiree M. Abbas (53')
2-1 Khelemba Singh (62')
2-2 Suley Musah (64')
3-2 Wisdom Abbey (83')

YELLOW CARDS
13' Tutu George (VK)
66' Ebin Rose (VK)
82' Suley Musah (VK)

RED CARDS
none

MAN OF THE MATCH
Khelemba Singh (Viva Kerala)

VIVA KERALA

AIR-INDIA

25-MV Nelson [GK]
2-Ebin Rose
3-Khelemba Singh
4-Tutu George
5-Akshay Das
16-Shahbas Shaleel
7-Bimanyu Bimal Birua
28-Somy PT
8-S. James Singh (46' #22)
10-Badmus Baba Thunde
17-Wisdom Abbey

Formation: 4-4-2

Substitutes:
1-TG Purushothaman [GK]
23-Sunil Kumar Thakur
18-Chanambam Jatin Singh
22-KV Lalu (46' #8)
26-Mohammad Helmy
21-Santa Saikhom Singh
6-Othallo Tabia

21-Raju Ekka [GK]
5-Vijith Shetty
3-Nirmal Chetri
22-Suley Musah
6-L Uttam Singh
19-Sanotsh Koli (66' #10)
12-Michael S. Payo (74' #11)
4-Dhanachandra Singh
20-Paresh Shivalkar [C]
27-Bashiree Mohammed Abbas
8-Kumar Samson Singh

Formation: 4-4-2

Substitutes:
30-Sarath EC [GK]
16-Covan Lawrence
26-Amrit Pal Singh
11-Hringsolal Thomte (74' #12)
15-Sanju Pradhan
18-Hamza Zaheer Abbas
10-T Narender Meetei (66' #19)



	Viva Kerala overcame Air-India by 3-2 in the 1th round match of the inaugural I-League. It was Viva's first win after suffering three successive defeats in the league whereas it was the opposite for the Mumbai outfit as it was there third defeat from their last four games. The match started with both teams playing more in midfield and the first half was really quiet as both teams in reality never looked capable to score goals. But the second half was lively and it was Viva Kerala who drew the first blood in the game. In the 52nd minute of the game Sagolsem James Singh from the centre found the 17 year old Shaleel who dribbled past two Air-India defenders and gave an inch perfect cross from left which found Ghanian Wisdom Abbey who headed in the ball beautifully into the net. The goal was first goal the men in blue scored from the last four games. But Air-India pulled one back when a Paresh Shivalkar cross found Bashiree Mohammed Abbas who just tapped the ball into the open net. The goal stunned the home fans, but Viva again surged ahead within 10 minutes when they took the lead after their captain Khelemba Singh scored from a stunning free-kick. It was Suley Musah's foul on Baba Thunde that led to the free-kick and the former Churchill Brothers player came forward to take it and his 40 yard screamer went into right side of the post to which the goalkeeper had no answer. But for the second time in the game Air-India snatched an equaliser and this time it was the same Paresh Shivalkar who was the behind the move. His corner which was delivered as a high ball found Bashiree Mohammad Abbas who headed the ball into Viva's box which found the Ghanian defender Suley Musah who drilled in a shot which was deflected of Khelemba Singh and went in. The match turned again but this time in favour of the away team. It looked to be heading for a draw but Viva Kerala found the winner through Wisdom Abbey. It was defender Akshay Das pass that helped Shaleel to make a run from the left and from the outside of the box he gave a cross to Baba Thunde who shot towards the goal deflected off Abbey and found the net to the much delight of the 10,000 people in the Municipal Corporation Stadium. It was Shahbas Shaleel excellent performance in the midfield that enabled Viva Kerala to grab valuable three points in the match. The win helped Viva Kerala to stay on 7th position in the league while Air-India remain in the drop zone after tasting three defeats in their last four games. Viva Kerala will face a revived Mohun Bagan next while Air-India will face the struggling Salgoacar SC from Goa.