Vientiane (Laos): India defeated hosts Laos by two second half goals in their concluding Group G match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup Qualifiers 2025 at the Lao National Stadium KM16 on Sunday night.
In a match that could have won by a tennis-like score, the Blue Colts squandered a series of scoring chances before finding the net through Gwgwmsar Goyary (69’) and Thanglalsoun Gangte (84’) to notch up full points.
While India finished with six points from three matches and were second in the four-team group behind IR Iran, it remains to be seen whether this performance can secure them a spot in the final rounds of the competition.
The top teams of the 10 groups along with the five best second-place finishers will qualify for the AFC U20 Asian Cup China 2025. India finished second in group G with a 6-2 goal difference.
India spent most of the first 45 minutes lurking around the Laos area to find a goal but had to troop back to the dressing room without success. While the home side rode their luck to keep the scoresheet clean, India missed a host of opportunities.
Going by the trend of the proceedings, the Blue Colts should have been up by a comfortable margin, but they failed to avail chances that came their way.
Kelvin Singh Taorem surprised everyone around when he couldn’t find the target despite having the Laos goalkeeper at his mercy. Kop Lokpathib, the Laos custodian, by far the busiest person on the pitch, looked more relieved than anyone around when Goyary ballooned over the bar from just outside the six-yard area.
India were definitely the better side and penetrated almost at will. But it didn’t break the ice.
While Laos survived by the skin of their teeth, Indian strikers switched to the tactics of unleashing long rangers. It didn’t help. Most of the shots were off-target; the rest landed straight in the keeper’s hands.
There was no change in the pattern in the second session, except that Laos took advantage of India’s frustration. As India U20 increased men in attack in search of the elusive goal, Laos seized the opportunity to go for the counter-attacks.
Twice the Indian goal experienced rare attacks that had all the ingredients to leave them red-faced. Thankfully, Sahil was alert under the bar on both occasions.
Barring these stray attacks by Laos, their goal was under constant siege by the Indian strikers. At least three positive chances were missed by the men in blue in quick succession before their relentless pursuit for a goal bore fruit in the 69th minute.
A long ball from Manglenthang Kipgen found Goyary inside the box, who beat the goalkeeper with a grounder.
In the 84th minute, substitute Thanglalsoun Gangte fired the second goal from inside the box.
India U20: Sahil (gk); Lambalmayum Hemba Meetei, Thomas K Cherian (c), Pramveer, Malemngamba Singh Thokchom; Akash Tirkey, Ebindas Yesudasan (Naoba Meitei Pangambam, 63’); Korou Singh Thingujam, Manglenthang Kipgen, Kelvin Singh Taorem (Thanglalsoun Gangte, 63’); Gwgwmsar Goyary.
