Asian Cup Qualifiers: Laos 0-1 India: Jeje leads India to a crucial away win

India take home a one-goal advantage as Jeje's header proved to be enough against a lacklustre Laos side...

India beat Laos 1-0 thanks to a second-half header by Jeje Lalpekhlua, giving them the crucial advantage of an away win in the first leg of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifier.

India lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation, with Jeje, Sunil Chhetri and Udanta Singh forming the attacking trident.

The home side meanwhile had skipper Khampheng Sayavuthi upfront while Manolom Phomsouvanh was the danger man down the left wing.

Seven minutes into the game, Jeje was almost through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, but to his dismay the flag was up for offside.

Ten minutes later, the Mohun Bagan man was once again caught offside after Chettri had played him through on goal.

Laos had their first real pop at goal in the 27th minute when Phouttasay Khochaleren beat the entire Indian defence and got a shot away, only to see it soar wide.

Throughout the first half, India had the majority of the ball but they seemed to run out of ideas when in the final third, with their proclivity towards playing the long ball particularly disappointing.

In the final five minutes of the first half, Eugeneson Lyngdoh had two glorious chances to give the Blue Tigers the lead, but nothing came of them.

The first, in the 42nd minute, saw strong hold-up play by Jeje in the box as he passed it sideways to Chhetri, but the skipper left it for the onrushing Lyngdoh, who lashed it wide.

Then right on the stroke of half-time, Lyngdoh was set up by Narayan Das' cross but his attempted half-volley went narrowly wide.

India started the second half brightly with Jeje giving them the lead in the 54th minute with a fine header off Udanta’s assist to continue his rich vein of form.

Ten minutes later, Moukda tried to drive down the heart of the Indian defence but was stopped by Arnab Mondal before he could get a shot away.

Gaffer Stephen Constantine made an intriguing change in the 71st minute, hauling off the impressive goalscorer Jeje for the young Sumeet Passi.

Almost immediately, Moukda turned past Eugeneson and shot from about 25 yards, but couldn't place it on target, thereby letting another glorious opportunity to equalise go down the drain.

Minutes later, a throughball almost reached Manolom with Sandesh struggling to keep up, but Gurpreet Singh read the situation well and he came out to clear the danger.

India seemed to lock down the score-line by the 85th minute as Laos’ lack of attacking bite gave them little trouble as they looked to play out a valuable away win.

However, there was nearly a late twist as Moukda played in a smart cross from the left that saw skipper Khampheng sandwiched between the two Indian central defenders. He rose highest but placed his glancing header just wide of the left post.

That was to be the final chance of the game as India return home with an away win.

India host Laos at Guwahati for the return leg on June 7.