BENGALURU: Frustration was starting to show among the Indian players and in the stands of the Sree Kanteerava Stadium. Macau, the minnows in the group, were not expected to challenge, let alone score a goal against group leaders India. But, here they were, holding onto a 1-1 draw with two-thirds of the game played.
And it was that man Sunil Chhetri again who broke the deadlock in Bengaluru on Wednesday, scoring the goal that sent India to the 2019 AFC Asian Cup in UAE. The 4-1 final score was a fair reflection of India's attacking prowess, but there were a few instances when Macau could have gone ahead.
After Rowllin Borges had given India the lead in the 28th minute, Macau had levelled through Nicholas Tarrao in the 37th minute -- their first in the third round of the qualifying campaign and also the first conceded by India at this stage.
With India lacking an edge in the attack, coach Stephen Constantine had swapped Jackichand Singh with Balwant Singh at the start of the second period. And it was the substitute frontman who latched onto Jeje Lalpekhlua's through ball and crossed for Chhetri to convert at the hour mark.
Holicharan Narzary's cross was turned into his own goal by Macau defender Ka Seng Lam in the 70th minute to double the home team's advantage before Jeje put the game to rest in the second half added time, tapping in a pass from Chhetri.
With four wins from four, India will make their third appearance in the Asian Cup when it kicks off in the Middle East two years from now.
India dominated possession from the kick-off and defender Anas Edathodika was close to giving them the lead as early as the second minute. Minutes later, Chhetri was fouled 20 yards from goal, but the captain himself hit the resulting free-kick over the bar.
Macau gaffer Chan Hiu Ming set his side up with a three-man defence, but their resistance was broken in the 28th minute by Rowllin who collected Jeje’s cut-back and fired the ball into the net, via a big deflection off a defender. India looked to be cruising, but the Kanteerava was silenced when Tarrao equalised against the run of the play.
The hosts began the second period brightly. Chhetri released Holicharan, whose shot was blocked in the 54th minute. Two minutes after, Sandesh Jhingan's header from a Eugeneson Lyngdoh corner was parried over the bar by goalkeeper Ho Man Fai. But India went ahead once again in the 60th minute after Jeje released Balwant who crossed in for Chhetri to tap in at the far post.