Felix nets Viva winner

Strikers goal helps Kerala side overcome Arrows

The Arrows displayed flashes of brilliance and had their chances in the second half only to waste them after Felix Chimakwou struck for Viva Kerala in the 19th minute at the Tau Devi Lal Stadium.

The win gave Viva a lifeline from relegation as they have now collected 25 points from 24 matches. The Arrows stay on 23 points from 23 matches.

Felix beat the off-side trap as he followed an Anil Kumar cross from the left, sneaked in between Arrows skipper Raju Gaikwad and Deepak Devrani and placed it past a diving custodian Jagroop Singh.

The result was only Indian Arrows’ second defeat at home, having earlier lost to Churchill Brothers.

The Arrows, missing four of their first eleven players, did not have much to boast about in the first half except a Bikramjeet Singh long-ranger in the dying minutes of the first 45 minutes.

However, the Under-21 boys came back strongly in the second half. With Lalrindika controlling the proceedings from the midfield, Arrows almost scored twice but it was cleared from the goal line on both occasions.

The boys never hesitated in testing the Viva Kerala custodian K Sharath from long range. And twice, Sharath had to stretch to the fullest to palm away Manandeep and Lanrindika’s raspers.

Coach Desmond Bulpin was not willing to read much into the defeat.
“We had our chances but couldn’t convert them. It cost us dear,” he said after the match.
“We didn’t compete in the first half at all. Ofcourse it is hard when half of your side is either injured or sick. But I can’t make excuses,” he added.

Viva Kerala coach Kunhikrishnan was a relieved man after his side got three points.
“We badly needed to win. And the boys rose to the occasion. I feel we are safe now (of relegation),” he said.