AFC U-20 Asian Cup Qualifiers
Vientiane, Sep 29: India pumped in two second-half goals to beat hosts Laos 2-0 in their concluding Group G match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup 2025 Qualifiers here on Sunday.
The Blue Colts squandered a series of scoring chances before finding the net through Gwgwmsar Goyary (69th minute) and Thanglalsoun Gangte (84th) to notch up full points.While India finished second in the four-team group with six points from three matches behind Iran (9 points), it remains to be seen whether this is enough for them to secure 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 2025 in China. India finished with +4 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. The Blue Colts could have taken the lead in the first half itself, but they failed to avail the 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.
There was no change in the pattern in the second session, except that Laos took advantage of India’s frustration.As India U20 side increased men in attack in search of goal, Laos seized the opportunity to go for the counter-attacks. (PTI)