I-League: Rafi Spares Mahindra's Blushes In Entertaining Draw

Mahindra United were held to a draw by lowly Viva Kerala at the Cooperage on Friday, the Mumbai side's fourth draw in six games.

Viva took a shock lead in the first half, with Thai recruit Wisut Bunpeng scoring his first goal for the club, but the in-form Mohammed Rafi equalized via a header after half time, denying Viva what would have been a famous win.

The home side started with Svetozar Mijin and N.P.Pradeep in the middle with David Booth naming at least four players from Kerala in his starting line-up. For Viva Kerala, Sakeer and Sisupalan played in the middle of the park.

The match started at a good pace with both teams looking to create which made for a good viewing. Svetozar Mijin's ball found Mohammed Rafi in good space who did well to cut inside but his shot was parried away by Viva custodian Sharath in the 13th minute.

A couple of minutes later, a Steven Dias flagkick saw Rafi's low header at the near post come off a Viva shirt. Mahindra United suffered a blow inside the opening 20 minutes when Steven Dias had to be substituted.

Viva Kerala's Wisut Bunpeng had an opportunity to give his side the lead when he found himself inside the box with a clear view of the goal but took way too much time to unleash a shot before he was stifled amongst several Mahindra bodies. T.Karma would rue his bad karma as his shot came off the crossbar.

Just before the half hour mark, a Sakeer free-kick from the right was headed across the face of the goal by Charles Ozisha which was coolly slotted home by Wisut Bunpeng.

T.Karma made a brilliant run dispossessing Ajayan but failed to find his team-mates in the middle. Left winger Siraj released Wisut as Mahindra backline kept giving enough space to their opponents but the striker was once again dispossesed in time.

Mahindra started the second half on a better note with Paresh Shivalkar's cross from the left being held in time by Sharath before Muritala Ali could head in.

Eight minutes after the break and the Red Devils restored parity when two Keralaites combined in the form of N.P.Pradeep and Mohammed Rafi with the former's free-kick being headed in by the latter.

Around the hour mark, Viva Kerala applied tremendous pressure when Sakeer sent an overhead pass for Reuben whose shot was blocked by Sushant Matthew. From a Viva flagkick, the ball fell for Sushil who headed it back for his defenders. Lack of anticipation from the Mahindra backline saw the ball go to the feet Charles whose shot was just about kept out by Subashish Chowdhury in the 64th minute.

Mohammed Rafi had a great chance in the 78th minute when he cut inside and from an unmarked position his shot was blocked by a Viva defender while Sushil kept asking from the ball in the middle.

In the 80th minute, Mahindra United must thank their stars as D.Ravanan headed a certain goalbound shot from Wisut Bunpeng after Sakeer released T.Karma whose cross was volleyed by the Thai striker.

Substitute Sushil Kumar's bullet shot was punched away by Sharath in what could have been a winner in the 83rd minute. He also earned a free-kick for his side on the edge of the box from where N.P.Pradeep's attempt came off the post.

It was a lively second half and a draw seemed a fair result. However, Mahindra United would be disappointed given that it's their fourth straight draw while a point away from home for the Kerala side wouldn't be considered bad.

Rahul Bali