AFC Asian Cup 2019 Qualifiers: India 4-1 Macau - As it happened

India 4-1 Macau, FT

Updated: 11 October 2017 21:20 IST - Published: October, 11 2017 09:03 PM IST

The Blue Tigers have made it to the AFC Asian Cup 2019 finals after today's win. India stretch their unbeaten run to 12 games with this win. That's all from us here, thanks for joining us.

Full-time: India 4-1 Macau

90+2' Jeje puts the finishing touches to the game with a tap in from Chhetri's square ball. India are heading to UAE 2019 for sure now.

90+2' GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL INDIA!

90' Jeje is played forward by Balwant but the striker is pulled up for offside. Jeje rounded the Macau keeper before lining up to shoot but the assistant already had his flag up.

87' WHAT A MISS!

Lovely play from Narzary who runs through the middle before passing it to Chhetri ahead of him. The India captain unselfishly lays it off for Jeje, whose shot with his weaker left foot goes narrowly wide.

84' As the clock ticks toward the full time whistle, the game is slowly petering out. Macau don't believe they can overturn the deficit as India circulate the ball from one side to another.

80' We head into the final 10 minutes of regulation time. It has been a drab affair as far as quality is concerned, but Indian fans would barely complain as a ticket to 2019's AFC Asian Cup final inches ever closer. Can the Blue Tigers hold on to their lead?

79' Balwant is on fire!

The Mumbai City man gets on the end of a lay off from Jeje and hits the ball first time with his weaker left foot but the effort just fizzes over the goal.

77' Another debut handed by Constantine as Salam Ranjan Singh makes his senior India bow, replacing Anas in central defence.

77' Salam Ranjan ON Anas OFF

76' Macau mounting some attacks of their own now but once again Leonel's audacious attempt goes high and wide of target.

75' Carlos Leonel suddenly finds some shooting space in front of the India box but his effort is straight at Gurpreet's hands, luckily for India.

73' India are now well-placed to seal their passage to the AFC Asian Cup 2019 with their 2-goal advantage. It's not been the perfect performance but Balwant has come on and changed things for the Blue Tigers.

70' Narzary's cross from the right is deflected into the back of the net by a Macau defender as India finally have a 2-goal cushion. The goalkeeper had no chance there.

70' GOOOOOOOAAAAAALLLLL INDIA!

65' Mohammed Rafique ON Rowllin Borges OFF

63' India nearly score another as Balwant is running riot. the substitute cuts back the ball but Sunil Chhetri has pressure from behind due to which he fails to make a proper contact to tap in the ball for India's 3rd.

61' Balwant nearly scores another after he gets into a 1-v-1 with the Macau keeper. However, his clipped finish is wide of target.

There was some suspicion of offside but Balwant brilliantly checked his run before squaring an inch-perfect ball to Chhetri, who slots it home for his 55th international goal.

60' GOOOOOOAAAAALLLL INDIA!

58' Lionel with a shot from outside the box with an impossible technique but Gurpreet has his near post covered.

56' What a chance for India as Eugene's corner is headed goalward by Jhingan only for the Macau goalkeeper to pull off a diving, reaction save to deny the Indians the lead.

53' Some needle play from India almost get Chhetri in a shooting position but he decides to pass the ball to Narzary whose low cross is deflected for a corner. Eugene's corner is a wasted opportunity.

51' Macau enjoy some good moments in attack but their final effort - a difficult header - on target is held well by Gurpreet.

49' Kotal's long throw almost falls invitingly for Jeje but the Macau defence do well to relieve their goal of any pressure. Early impetus is with India but how long before the second goal?

48' Some weak passing by the Indians here but Jeje somehow gets to the Macau byeline before swinging in a looping cross with no one to challenge.

46' The ineffective Jacki has been replaced by Balwant. That means Chhetri will shift to a wider role in the 2nd half.

And we are underway in the 2nd half as India attack from left to right.

What started as a promising half of football has suddenly turned damp for India after Macau's equaliser close to half-time. The Blue Tigers went ahead deservedly through a Rowllin Borges' deflected strike, but Macau's Nicholas Tarrao had other ideas as he perfectly connected a cross from the right flank to equalise. There's everything to play for in the 2nd 45 minutes, can India come out on top? The 2nd half starts in a short while.

Half-time: India 1-1 Macau

45' India are probing but the rain has severely limited the quality of their end product. Another cross from Narayan here goes out for a goalkick.

41' Every pass is going haywire for India at the moment. Although they have the ball and are playing well inside the Macau half, the lack of penetration is worrying. The quality of crosses from the fullbacks is also something to be bothered about.

39' India go straight on the attack after conceding. Shots fly in from all angles, including those from Rowllin and Anas, but without success. Constantine's plan was almost working until Tarrao spoilt the party. Narzary's attempt is also staved away by the Macanese defence.

37' Nicholas Tarrao scores after meeting an inch-perfect cross that fell perfectly between Jhingan and Kotal. Against the run of play, Macau equalise, their first goal of the qualifying campaign.

37' GOOOOOAAAAALLLL MACAU!

34' Jeje almost picks Chhetri with the perfect lobbed through ball but the India captain is flagged offside. It all came about after Macau had their players upfield for a freekick conceded by Rowllin, who seems to be everywhere today.

32' Kotal with a looping cross from the right which is met by Holi running in from the other side, However, the Assam forward's header is too weak and directed straight to the Macau keeper.

32' Macau with some enthusiasm in attack after going behind but the Blue Tigers are back controlling the ball as well as territory.

30' Another diagonal ball from Jacki into Chhetri's head from the right flank but the captain fails to win the aerial duel and Macau recovers possession. India have dominated every aspect of this game and they have deservedly taken the lead on a soggy Kanteerava pitch.

28' It all started with a cross from Holi from the left and Jeje got lucky to have the ball at his feet despite a scuffed first-time effort. the Mizo striker laid it off perfectly for Rowllin who delivers an unerring finish beyond the diving goalkeeper. Rowllin really wanted a goal today, and he's got one. India lead!

28' GOOOOOAAAAALLLLL INDIA!

26' Macau's lack of quality on the ball is very evident here as a free man in the centre fails to find a teammate ahead of him. It's been an easy toil for Jhingan and Anas at the back but can India break the deadlock at the other end?

25' Gurpreet's long punts have been a useful option for India to switch from defence to attack rapidly. However, the Macau defence has held tight so far as Chhetri and Jeje look for that lucky ricochet or loose ball.

Expletives being shelled out to the refereee. And for those in the stands, understandably so.

No power points to plug in a laptop here at the Kanteerva. Rain has claimed a valuable resource.

23' Jacki with a better cross this time but Chhetri is heavily outnumbered in the aerial battle and Macau easily defend the ball.

22' Close shave for the Macau 'keeper as Kotal's cross from the right byeline is almost fumbled before the no1 recovers.

21' Chhetri with the effort from the FK but the captain's curler goes over the bar.

20' Macau with a corner there but once again they fail to trouble the Indian defence. Chhetri, meanwhile, earns a freekick after being tugged back in a quick transition.

18' Jacki with another poor delivery as Macau have it easy at the back. The torrential downpour isn't certainly helping the Indians but the Manipur winger should've done better there.

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