India, fielding an under-23 side in the regional tournament, scored through national under-19 captain Jeje Lalpeklua in the 86th minute to run away away with full points.
Fed by stopper Denzil Franco, Jeje, who substituted Balwant Singh in the 72nd minute, turned in from near the right flank into the Afghan box and his right footer from acute angle slipped past the goalkeeper.
However, Sukhwinder Singh’s boys were listless for most part of the match, failing to hold the ball for a length of time leave alone building attacks at the floodlit Bangabandhu National Stadium here.
It was rather the Afghans, the tournament undergdogs, who were the better side in the first session before India regrouped in the second half. India play Nepal on Monday in their second Group A match. In another Group A match, holders Maldives were held to a 1-1 draw by Nepal.
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