India registered a 1-0 win against Laos in their first leg of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers in Vientiane on Thursday. Captain Sunil Chhetri (Mumbai City FC) led the line alongside Jeje Lalpehklua (Chennaiyin FC) as India got off to a bright start. The attacking duo combined well in the early exchanges but could not come up with a clear-cut chance.India soon began to take control of the game as Chhetri appeared to latch on to a ball in behind the Laos defence but the opposition goal-keeper was quick off his line to deny the Indian skipper. Laos made a rare foray into the Indian half not long after that and had a go from distance but Gurpreet Singh Sandhu was not tested as the shot was way off-target.Amidst all the pressure, Laos were given a free-kick and the taker whipped in a dangerous cross but it was headed-clear by Sandesh Jhingan (Kerala Blasters FC) and India breathed a big sigh of relief.India’s brightest chance came in injury time of the first half as Das’ pin-point cross found Chhetri but the Indian captain’s acrobatic effort flashed just wide of the post. The two teams headed into the break with the scores still locked at 0-0.India made a switch at the break as Halicharan Narzary made way for NorthEast United FC winger Seityasen Singh. It paid dividends as India began the second half on the front foot and it provided the team with the impetus as they opened the scoring in the 56th minute. Lalpekhlua got on the end of Udanta Singh’s cross and the Chennaiyin FC striker made no mistake with his header.With less than 15 minutes to play, Laos broke in behind India’s defence but Sandhu was alert to the danger and came racing off his line to make a crucial clearance. Laos had the last chance of the game as a dangerous header crept inches wide of the far post.India take a 1-0 lead heading into the second leg which is on June 7.
