India beat Macau 4-1, qualify for 2019 AFC Asian Cup

The Indian football team on Wednesday thrashed Macau 4-1 to qualify for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

India have qualified for the AFC Cup for the fourth time. This certainly is one of the biggest achievements in the Indian football history.

The country shall lock horns with Asian powerhouses like South Korea, Japan and Iran in the showpiece event.

Last time India had qualified for the Asian Cup was six years back in 2011. The country's best result in the Asian Cup was way back in 1964 when they ended as runners-up to Israel.

Rowllin Borges opened the scoring for India with a fine right-footed volley in the 28^th minute, skipper Sunil Chhetri restored the lead, after the hosts conceded one, with a strike in the 60^th minute, while Macau conceded an own goal in the 70^th minute to dig their own grave at the Sree Kanteerava Stadium.

For Macau, Nicholas Tarrao scored in the 37^th minute— their first goal of the qualifying campaign.

India topped Group A qualifying round with 12 points from four matches.

They play Myanmar on November 24 and Kyrgyzstan on March 27 next year.

In the 2011 edition that was held in Doha, India lost all their group matches to Australia, South Korea and Bahrain.

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(With PTI inputs)