Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Guwahati: India fought back from a goal down to hand Laos a 6-1 defeat in the second leg of their AFC Asian Cup 2019 qualifying playoff on Tuesday to advance to the next group stage of the competition thanks to a 7-1 aggregate win.
Khonesavanh Sihavong netted for Laos after 16 minutes to level the scores on aggregate after Stephen Constantine’s side had won 1-0 in Vientiane last week, but three goals in six minutes either side of half-time helped India through.
Jeje Lalpekhlua levelled the scores on the night in the 43rd minute while Sumeet Passi put India in front on the stroke of half time. Sandesh Jhingan struck three minutes after the restart as India asserted their dominance with an impressive second-half display.
Jeje claimed his second 15 minutes from time before further goals from Mohammed Rafique and Fulganco Cardozo gave the Indians a substantial margin of victory.
India went into the game with a one-goal advantage from the first leg thanks to a goal from Jeje, and the home side were on the front foot from the off with the 25-year-old striker going close inside the first 10 minutes.
But with 16 minutes on the clock, Khonesavanh gave Laos the lead against the run of play and nerves started to jangle in the Indian camp. Jeje almost levelled three minutes after the opener while captain Sunil Chhetri had an appeal for a penalty turned down.
India continued to push forward and, after a period of sustained pressure, Constantine’s side claimed their reward when Jeje slotted the ball into the bottom corner in the 43rd minute.
Two minutes later the home side were in front when Passi tapped in Jackichand Singh’s cross before a header three minutes after the restart from Jhingan suddenly gave India a two-goal cushion.
With 15 minutes remaining Jeje claimed his second of the night – and his third of the two-legged tie – when he slotted the ball home with ease and, with five minutes remaining, Rafique added the fifth.
Debutante Cardozo claimed his side’s sixth in the final minute after replacing Keegan Pereira to ensure India booked their place in the next phase of qualifying for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 finals in the United Arab Emirates
Photo: AIFF