Chennaiyin FC ride on Jeje strike to secure AFC Cup group stage spot
A second half goal by India striker Jeje Lalpekhlua helped Chennaiyin FC beat Colombo FC by a solitary goal and secure a group stage sport of the AFC Cup here Wednesday.
With this win in the second leg of the qualifying play-off round at the Arena Stadium here, Chennaiyin became the first Indian Super League outfit to progress to the group stages of the AFC Cup in their debut campaign.
The first leg match in Colombo on March 6 had ended in a goal-less draw.
Jeje, who found the net in the 68th minute, thus also became Chennaiyin's first ever goal-scorer in the AFC Cup.
Chennaiyin will now be grouped along with 2017-18 I-League champions Minerva Punjab FC, Nepal's Manang Marshyangdi Club and Bangladesh's Abahani Limited Dhaka in Group E of the 2019 AFC Cup.
Chennaiyin got off to a lively start in their must-win encounter against the Sri Lankan side, winning a couple of corners in the opening minutes. Colombo found it difficult to get out of their own half.
Chennaiyin's first big chance .