VIENTIANE, Laos, March 20, 2025 (ePRESS) – Sri Lanka stunned higher-ranked Laos with a thrilling 2-1 victory in a FIFA International Friendly at the National Stadium in Vientiane on Thursday. This was Sri Lanka’s first-ever win against Laos in 22 years, achieved under floodlights in front of a packed home crowd.
Wade Dekker and Adhavan Rajamohan were the heroes for Sri Lanka, scoring in the 17th and 54th minutes, respectively. Laos, ranked 186th in the world, managed a late consolation goal in the 89th minute but could not break down Sri Lanka’s resilient defence.
Sri Lanka, ranked 200th, started aggressively and controlled the game from the outset. The visitors broke the deadlock in the 17th minute when Sam Durrant delivered a pinpoint cross into the box. Dekker, making no mistake, clinically slotted the ball past the Laos goalkeeper to give Sri Lanka a crucial early lead.
The islanders continued to attack, and Dekker nearly doubled the advantage in the 35th minute, but his shot narrowly missed the target. Laos struggled to find their rhythm in the first half and faced further frustration when their player, wearing jersey number 19, received a yellow card for a rough tackle just before the break.
Rajamohan doubles the lead
Sri Lanka made two key substitutions at halftime, bringing on Oliver Kelaart and Wasim Rassik for Leon Perera and Dekker. The tactical changes paid off as Sri Lanka extended their lead in the 54th minute. Rajamohan capitalized on a defensive lapse and produced a brilliant finish, sending the Sri Lankan bench into celebrations.
Despite trailing 2-0, Laos intensified their attacks in the latter stages of the match. The hosts pressed forward relentlessly and were finally rewarded in the 89th minute when they breached Sri Lanka’s defence to score their only goal.
The match, originally scheduled for a 5:30 PM start, was delayed by 45 minutes and kicked off at 6:15 PM Sri Lanka time. However, the delay did little to affect Sri Lanka’s performance, as they maintained composure and secured a historic victory.
This result marks a significant milestone for Sri Lankan football, proving their potential against a higher-ranked opponent on foreign soil.
