India produced a dominant display in Guwahati, hammering Laos 6-1 to move into the final round of the 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualifiers.
India, who went down to an early goal from Khonesavanh Sihavong, bounced back in style, as Jeje Lalpekhlua, Sumeet Passi, Sandesh Jhingan, Mohammed Rafique and Fulganco Cardozo all found the net to power the hosts to their biggest win since thrashing Cambodia 6-0 in August 2007.
India went into the game holding a 1-0 advantage following their victory in Vientiane last week, but it was Laos who took the early initiative. Sitthideth Khantavong went past Rino Anto on the left in the 16th minute and pulled the ball back towards his captain Khampheng Sayavutthi, who in turn flicked it towards Sihavong for a simple tap in.
With the tie level 1-1 on aggregate, the hosts stepped up in attack and were turned down a penalty appeal after Sunil Chhetri appeared to be brought down by Thenthong Phonsettha. However, India continued to pile on the pressure, and the coach Stephen Constantine's decision to bring on Jackichand Singh in place of Udanta Singh immediately paid off.
In the 43rd minute, Jackichand's cross down the right was expertly chested down by Jeje, who calmly put the ball past Laos' keeper to lift India back to the lead. India were buoyed, and Jackichand continued to cause Laos problems. In the first minute of added time, he dribbled past three defenders and sent in a cross across goal for the unmarked Passi - playing in only his second game for India - to score from.
Jhingan then all but settled the tie three minutes after the break, heading home from a Eugeneson Lyngdoh freekick. Sayavutthi and Paseuthsack Soulivayong both spurned half-chances for Laos to reduce the deficit, and India eventually made them pay, scoring three goals in a 13-minute period.
First, Jeje netted his second goal of the evening, from inside the box, after exchanging passes with Passi. Jeje was denied a hat-trick in the 82nd minute by the woodwork, but Rafique scored soon after, his deflected effort giving the Laos keeper no chance. Cardozo completed the rout with a header in the 87th minute following another dangerous cross from Jackichand, who bagged his third assist of the game to complete a memorable night for India.