I-League: Dempo down Viva Kerala

Despite the presence of India player N P Pradeep in the Viva Kerala midfield, the home side went down 0-2 to Dempo in a 13th round I-League match at the Municipal Jawahar Stadium in Kannur on Thursday.

After a barren first-half, the Goan outfit forged ahead in the 70th minute through a booming long-ranger from Roberto Silva and Joaquim Abranches sealed Viva's fate with an accurate long ranger in the 77th.

Viva have only themselves to blame as their strikers had numerous chances but failed to capitalise on them.

Pradeep, who joined Viva recently, played his first match for the club in five years, but could not bring luck to the side, who are placed 13th in the 14-team table.

Viva had a golden chance to take the lead in the 25th minute, but striker Sabith wasted the neat pass provided by the hardworking Anil Kumar.

The team continued to fritter away chances and in the 42nd minute Karma failed to find the target from a well-taken cross by Jinshad.

At the other end, Dempo too missed an opportunity with three minutes left for the breather as Ranti Martin's wayward shot flew over the bar.

Viva have only one victory against their name from the 13 games they have played so far this season.