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RECAP 2K16: ACHIEVING A TENNIS SCORE IN FOOTBALL!
07 Dec 2016

AIFF Media Team

NEW DELHI: It is not every-day that a score-line in Football resembles that of a Tennis set. On June 07, 2016, however, it happened.

Stephen Constantine’s India banged half a dozen goals past Laos in a 6-1 win in the second leg of the play-offs at the Indira Gandhi Athletic Stadium in Guwahati qualifying for the Qualifiers for the AFC 2019 Asian Cup UAE, winning 7-1 on aggregate.

Constantine fielded a weakened squad for the second leg against Laos as injuries to as many as six starting XI Players left the Indian camp reeling. To add to India’s misery, Laos took the lead as early as the 16th minute through Khonesavanh Sihavong, piling pressure on the ‘Men in Blue.’

Little did the Laotian side know what the Indian strike-force had in mind and Jeje’s toe-poke after an uncanny clearance that equalized India’s deficit, opened the floodgates.

Right at the stroke of half-time the ‘Men in Blue’ surged ahead into the lead as first half substitute Jackichand Singh rewarded Coach Constantine’s decision by producing a sublime cross from the left flank for Sumeet Passi, who tapped it home.

Going into the lead at half-time rejuvenated the spirits of the Indian camp and India’s attacking momentum continued as soon as the second half kicked-off. In the 48th minute, Sandesh Jhingan’s header off a Eugeneson Lyngdoh free kick crept into the net to double India’s lead.

Three goals in less than 15 minutes towards the end of the match added much gloss to the scoreline as Jeje’s strike in the 75th minute followed by Mohammad Rafique’s and debutant Fulangco Cardozo’s in the 85th and 89th minute respectively, led India to a dominating win over Laos.

Constantine’s boys turned the game around on its head and emerged eventual winners even after playing with a depleted squad. In the process, Coach Constantine handed out debuts to Keegan Pereira and Fulganco Cardozo. And both proved pivotal to India’s win over their opponents.

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