Wade Dekker and Adhavan Rajamohan goals in each half saw Sri Lanka defeat Laos after 22 years in a FIFA International Friendly played at the National Stadium in Vientiane, Laos.
Garrett Kelly made his debut for Sri Lanka, as they had a slightly scrappy start but quickly grew into the game keeping possession.
Leon Perera skied a first time effort over the crossbar before Wade Dekker opened the scoring for Sri Lanka in the 17th minute, heading in a Sam Durrant cross from the left. The goal was Dekker’s first for Sri Lanka.
Two minutes later Kop Lokphathip palmed away an Adhavan Rajamohan strike from outside the box. Dekker nearly doubled the lead from the edge of the box but Lokphathip denied his effort from going to the top left corner with a diving save.
Sri Lanka’s dominance forced Ha Hyeokjun into an early change bringing on Kydavone Souvanny for Victor Saysanth. Every time Sri Lanka lost the ball they were quick to regain possession unsettling the opponents.
Dekker was again in the thick of things in the 39th minute, when a Claudio Kammerknecht lobbed ball over the defense saw him one on one with Lokphathip, only for the goalkeeper to produce another stunning save from point blank range.
Half Time: Laos 0 – 1 Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka made two half time substitutions – Oliver Kelaart for Leon Perera and Waseem Razeek for Wade Dekker.
Laos exerted early pressure in search of the equalizer but it was Sri Lanka who doubled the lead in the 55th minute, with Adhavan Rajamohan’s first time effort from near the six yard box. It was Waseem Razeek who layed the ball for Rajamohan after Kelaart headed down the Durrant cross. This too was Rajamohan’s first goal for the country.
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Minutes later Kelaart shot the ball over the goal from a deflected cross. Meanwhile, Laos were restricted to shots from outside the box as they were denied any room inside the box. William Thomason came on for his first cap replacing Anujan Rajendram in the 66th minute.
Peeter Phanthavong sneaked behind the defense but Jason Thayaparan managed to block his effort. On the other end Razeek missed the target after getting into the penalty box from the right.
A rare mistake at the back by Sri Lanka allowed Phanthavong an opportunity but the scrambling substitute Mohamed Thilham managed to deflect the ball out for a corner.
Laos were camped in the attacking third in the last few minutes and the pressure paid off when Souvanny got a boot at the end of a Chony Wenpaserth cross to make it 1-2 in the 89th minute.
Laos went in search of the equalizer in the 5 added minutes but the visitors weathered the storm to come away with a win against Laos after 22 years.
Full Time: Laos 1 – 2 Sri Lanka
Match Summary
Goal Scorers
Laos – Kydavone Souvanny 89’
Sri Lanka – Wade Dekker 17’ & Adhavan Rajamohan 55’
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