2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers India beat Laos 1-0

2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers India beat Laos 1-0

FPJ BureauUpdated: Friday, May 31, 2019, 02:47 PM IST
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Vientiane : Striker Jeje Lalpekhlua scored the winner as India beat Laos by a solitary goal in a play-off match to put themselves in a strong position of qualifying for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers, here on Thursday.

Jeje found the target in the 56th minute from a Udanta Singh assist as a dominant India carved out a win away from home in a long time at the New Laos National Stadium. India had recorded their last away win in 2013 during the 10th SAFF Championships in Nepal.

The Stephen Constantine-coached side will now go into into the June 7 home tie in Guwahati in an advantageous position.

India had won just one match in eight outings in the joint 2019 Asian Cup and 2018 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and that has left them to feature in these play-off matches to earn the right to play in the qualifying round of the continent’s flagship football tournament.

It will also be a relief for Englishman Constantine whose future has been under the scanner after a series of poor shows by the national team under his charge.

India, ranked 163rd in the FIFA charts, dominated throughout today’s match as they did most of the attacking against the 174th ranked home side who had to defend their citadel for most part and rely on occasional counter attacks.

But with central defender Sandhesh Jhingan marshaling the Indian back four admirably well, Laos’ chances were few and far between.

On the other hand, Indian frontmen Sunil Chhteri, Jeje, Udanta Singh and Holicharan Nazary got space to mount several attacks on the Laos goal, while midfield livewire Eugenson Lyngdoh were able to feed them constantly.

The initial phase of the match saw captain Chhetri and Jeje trying to breach the rival defence with some neat work with Udanta and Holicharan breaking into the Laos box from the right and left flanks.

India earned a couple of free-kicks early on and from one such set piece, defender Rino Anto took a shot at the Laos goal but it got deflected from a defender’s leg in the 28th minute.

The Laos citadel fell finally in the 56th minute with Jeje nodding the ball into the Laos net from a fine Udanta cross from the right.

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