Persib Bandung seals victory late
Goals from Luka Menalo and Balsa Sekulic in the final five minutes saw Persib Bandung battle back to hand Melbourne Victory a 2-1 defeat on Wednesday that secures a spot in the knockout rounds of the AFC Champions League Two for the Indonesians.
Menalo levelled in the 85th minute and Sekulic hit a dramatic final minute winner after Brendan Hamill had given the A-League outfit a 71st minute lead and the result moves Igor Tolic’s side onto a maximum 12 points at the top of Group E to guarantee their progress.
The win was Persib’s fourth in a row in the group phase and came to the delight of a large and vociferous contingent of travelling fans, who made their presence known at the Melbourne Rectangular Stadium.
Persib’s Uilliam Barros pulled his eighth minute strike wide when the Victory defence gave him time and space to turn in the penalty area while at the other end, Michael Ghossaini’s shot from distance bent away from Fitrah Maulana’s right post.
Persib were inches away from taking the lead in breath-taking fashion in the 32nd minute when Barros headed a long clearance back into the path of Sekulic, who set off on a run towards goal that ended in a curling strike from 20 yards that rattled the crossbar.
Jack Duncan, who had been well beaten by Sekulic’s spectacular effort, kept out Eliano Reijnders low left-footed strike four minutes later with his right hand, the forward not placing his strike far enough into the corner to beat the home goalkeeper.
Keegan Jelacic flashed his shot across the face of the Persib goal as Victory made a positive start to the second half while Guillermo May went closest to opening the scoring for the hosts in the 51st minute when his left foot shot from eight yards out hit the post.
Denis Genreau was off target soon after the hour mark but it was a mistake from Fitrah that finally broke the deadlock.
Jason Davidson’s hopeful lofted pass into the penalty area was misjudged by the Persib goalkeeper, who allowed the ball through his hands as he came to claim and, as it bounced towards goal, Hamill came in to touch home.
Menalo, introduced in the 73rd minute for Barrios, claimed a deserved equaliser for Persib when he netted from close range at the second attempt after Rangar Oratmangoen’s centre had unlocked the home defence.
And five minutes later Sekulic completed the turnaround after Mariano Peralta stormed down the left flank to deliver a centre that the Montenegrin forward gleefully steered beyond Duncan.
RESULTS
Persib Bandung (Ina) bt Melbourne Victory (Aus) 2-1
Buriram United (Tha) drew Kashima Antlers (Jpn) 0-0
Pohang Steelers (Kor) drew Gamba Osaka (Jpn) 3-3
Al Jazira Club (UAE) bt Al Muharraq (Bhr) 3-0
Al Taawoun (Ksa) bt Al Faisaly (Jor) 3-1
Al Rayyan (Qat) bt Al Nahda (Oma) 2-0
Al Khaifiya (Bhr) bt Al Wahda (UAE) 2-1
PFC Nasaf (Uzb) bt Kuwait SC (Kuw) 3-2
FC Arkadag (Tkm) bt Golgohar Sirhan (Irn) 1-0
FC Seoul (Kor) bt The Cong Viettel (Vie) 3-0
