Jeje Lalpekhlua scored a 56th minute goal to fire India to a 1-0 win over Laos in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification playoff at the National Stadium, Vientiane on Thursday. The victory was India's first in the away leg of a qualifier since 2001.
Jeje's goal was his 13th in India colours, and his first since scoring in India's 2-1 win over Afghanistan in the SAFF Championship final in January.
India, who lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, dominated possession in the first half, but struggled to find the right pass in the final third, instead resorting mainly to long balls. Laos had the best chance of the half, with Phouttasay Khochaleren beating the entire Indian defence but sending his effort wide.
The visitors, though, upped the tempo after the break, and were rewarded 10 minutes into the second half. The winger Udanta Singh, who changed flanks, got past his marker and sent a ball into the box. The Laos defence failed to deal with the cross, and Jeje capitalised, calmly heading home to give India the lead.
Laos played with more urgency after the goal, and came close to equalising on a couple of occasions, but Moukda Souksavath spurned two good chances. India, who looked happy to sit back and play out for a 1-0 win, nearly paid the price for dropping too deep as in the 93rd minute, Laos' captain Khampheng Sayavutthi got in between India's centre backs, but his glanced header went just wide of the post.
Despite holding on for an important win, India's coach Stephen Constantine was not too pleased with his team's performance.
"Laos made it difficult for us running all around. But we can play much better than this," he said. "We have just won the first-half and go into our Home match with a slight advantage. Hopefully, we can win at home. I never care about records."
India will play the return leg against Laos in Guwahati on June 7.