Melbourne Victory suffered a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Persib Bandung in the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday night.
Striker Balsa Sekulic struck twice in the second half at Si Jalak Harupat Stadium for the Group E leaders, who continued their 100% record at the expense of Giovanni Savarese’s side’s unbeaten run.
Victory resume domestic matters on Sunday, November 1, with an A-League Men’s and Women’s double-header at AAMI Park. Tickets for Kids Round, when kids go free, can be purchased by clicking here.
It is then back to ACL Two action, for the reverse fixture against Persib on Wednesday, November 4, kick-off 6:45pm AEDT.
Team news
The Head Coach employed six changes from the XI that started the Melbourne Derby draw. Jack Warshawsky was given the nod between the sticks for the first time this season, behind a backline that saw Franco Lino and Tom Lockyer brought in. Young guns Xavier Stella and Michael Ghossaini were selected in an attacking midfield, and Santos, after his lively appearance off the bench on Saturday, lined up on the left.
Match action
After weathering a storm of early corners, the visitors found their feet and twice Keegan Jelacic threatened. First he was denied from an acute angle after Santos kept an attack alive out wide, then the 24-year-old was mere inches from getting on the end of Harry Shillington’s searching cross.
In the other penalty area, Warshawsky comfortably grabbed Gakuto Notsuda’s long-range shot and watched a Rosembergne Da Silva header bounce harmlessly wide from a corner.
His opposite number, Fitrah Maulana, gave a more concerned dive to Franco Lino’s crack from distance, but this too ended up the wrong side of the upright.
Half-time: Persib Bandung 0-0 Melbourne Victory
Savarese made a double switch at the interval, replacing Ghossaini and Stella with Jordi Valadon and Matthew Grimaldi. However, before either could assert themselves in the contest, Victory fell behind.
A hopeful ball forward from Danijel Loncar was pursued by Sekulic, who won the footrace, and crept a low finish into the far corner.
The Montenegrin striker had a taste for it, and moments later his dipping left-footed volley was pushed over the top by an alert Warshawsky.
The away side, with a vocal home crowd roaring on Persib, could ill-afford to soak up any more pressure, and deployed attack as the best form of defence. Santos, a goalscorer on Match Day 1 and 2, nearly made it three in a row, hitting the crossbar flush from a wonderful curling attempt.
Those fine margins mattered, though, as midway through the second period, the hosts’ striker fired again. This time Da Silva did the legwork, carrying the ball forward, before supplying Sekulic to make it two.
Soon after, he wasted a chance to make it a hat-trick, controlling neatly only to spoon his effort well off-target.
Match details
Persib Bandung 1 (SEKULIC 47′, 67′)
Melbourne Victory 0
Persib Bandung starting XI:Â 81. Fitrah MAULANA (GK), 2. Eliano REIJNDERS, 4. JULIO CESAR, 6. Sandy WALSH, 17. Gakuto NOTSUDA (11. Dedi KUSNANDAR 79′), 18. Adam Alis SETYANO (C), 22. Danijel LONCAR, 33. Thom Jan HAYE (19. Nazriel ALFARO SYAHDAN 90′), 48. Patricio MATRICARDI, 97. Rosembergne DA SILVA (10. Mariano PERALTA Bauer 72′), 99. Balsa SEKULIC (94. Uilliam BARROS Pereira 72′).
Substitutes not used:Â 5. Kakang RUDIANTO, 7. Beckham Putra NUGRAHA, 30. Rafi RASYIQ, 40. Ikwan Ali TANAMAL, 60. Rhaka SYAFAKA, 77. Ragnar ORATMANGOEN.
Booking: None.
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 36. Harry Shillington, 4. Philipp ZIEREIS, 15. Tom LOCKYER, 18. Franco LINO (5. Brendan HAMILL 76′), 22. Xavier STELLA (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 46′), 10. Denis GENREAU, 23. Keegan JELACIC, 29. Michael GHOSSAINI (8. Jordi VALADON 46′), 11. SANTOS (9. Harry SAWYER 76′), Charles NDUKA.
Substitutes not used: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 30. Daniel GRASKOSKI, 19. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 24. Malik OLUKHALE, 26. Jack MIHAILIDIS, 28. William KENGNI,
Booking: None.
