Two late Persib Bandung goals inflicted a tough loss on Melbourne Victory in the AFC Champions League Two on Wednesday night.
The Boys in Blue appeared set to exact revenge for last week’s 2-0 reverse in Indonesia when Brendan Hamill forced a Julio Cesar own goal to break the deadlock in the second half of the Matchweek 4 clash.
However, the spoils would go to Persib at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, who levelled five minutes from time through substitute Luka Menalo before Balsa Sekulic landed a suckerpunch in the final breaths of regulation time.
Victory play two A-League away matches next up, visiting Adelaide United and Auckland FC either side of the FIFA Men’s international window, ahead of their final home ACL Two Group Stage match against Thể Công–Viettel at Kardinia Park on Wednesday, November 25, kick-off 6:45pm AEDT.
Team news
The Head Coach struck upon five changes from the weekend’s draw with Central Coast Mariners. Philipp Ziereis, an early introduction during that A-League clash, came in along with fellow defender Hamill, young midfielders Michael Ghossaini, Xavier Stella, and striker Harry Sawyer.
Match action
On a fast playing surface, greased by a few springtime showers, Victory set about the Group E leaders by claiming some early territory, but it was the visitors that had the first shot in anger when Uilliam Barros dragged an effort wide.
In response, Ghossaini, pursuing his first senior goal, exploited a pocket of space, and although his attempt had better shape and, for a moment, had Fitrah Maulana showing concern, it too faded off target.
Periods of attacking play were being traded frequently, and Sekulic thudded the crossbar from distance before Eliano Reijnders, allowed to drift into the box without serious opposition, forced Jack Duncan into a low save.
The half rounded out with the hosts probing, and during a brief spell of stoppage time, Ghossaini tried his luck again, this time volleying forcefully over the top.
Half-time: Melbourne Victory 0-0 Persib Bandung
Savarese’s side started the second 45 with an extra zip to their play, although Ghossaini was a touch overzealous when pressuring Danijel Loncar, and earned himself a caution.
Nevertheless, this set the tone, and not too long after Keegan Jelacic had sprayed a long ranger the wrong side of the upright, Guillermo May planted a thump against it. The Uruguayan beat Maulana at his near post, but was denied by the woodwork.
At the hour mark, Victory rang the changes and a triple switch saw Louis D’Arrigo, Charles Nduka and Santos introduced in a bid to find a breakthrough. Although, when this arrived, 18 minutes from time, it proved to be two defenders forcing the issue.
Jason Davidson’s delivery from deep asked questions the Persib defence could not answer, with the skipper Setyano spooning a clearance backwards that Maulana entirely misjudged, only palming it further toward goal where Hamill had alertly positioned himself to force the ball through two retreating defenders.
This put Victory on course for an important win in the fight for qualification until the away team applied a late twist to the tale.
They first equalised from the second phase of a cross into the box through Menalo’s rising right-footed finish, then found a winner at the death when Sekulic proved the scourge of Victory again, prodding in from close range.
Match details
Melbourne Victory 1 (JULIO CESAR own goal 71′)
Persib Bandung 2 (MENALO 85′, SEKULIC 90′)
Melbourne Victory starting XI: 25. Jack DUNCAN (GK), 36. Harry Shillington, 4. Philipp ZIEREIS, 5. Brendan HAMILL (15. Tom LOCKYER 80′), 3. Jason DAVIDSON (C), 22. Xavier STELLA (6. Louis D’ARRIGO 60′), 10. Denis GENREAU, 21. Guillermo MAY (14. Matthew GRIMALDI 77′), 23. Keegan JELACIC, 29. Michael GHOSSAINI (11. SANTOS 59′), 9. Harry SAWYER (44. Charles NDUKA 60′).
Substitutes not used: 1. Jack WARSHAWSKY (GK), 8. Jordi VALADON, 18. Franco LINO, 19. Oliver DRAGICEVIC, 24. Malik OLUKHALE, 26. Jack MIHAILIDIS, 28. William KENGNI.
Booking: GHOSSAINI 47′, SANTOS 90+3.
Persib Bandung starting XI: 81. Fitrah MAULANA (GK), 2. Eliano REIJNDERS, 4. JULIO CESAR (10. Mariano PERALTA 81′), 6. Sandy WALSH, 17. Gakuto NOTSUDA (77. Ragnar ORATMANGOEN 83′), 18. Adam Alis SETYANO (C) (23. Marc KLOK 73′), 22. Danijel LONCAR, 33. Thom Jan HAYE, 48. Patricio MATRICARDI, 94. Uilliam BARROS Pereira (9. Luka MENALO 73′), 99. Balsa SEKULIC.
Substitutes not used: 5. Kakang RUDIANTO, 7. Beckham Putra NUGRAHA, Bauer, 11. Dedi KUSNANDAR, 14. Teja PAKU ALAM, 19. Nazriel ALFARO SYAHDAN, 23. Marc KLOK, 40. Ikwan Ali TANAMAL, 60. Rhaka SYAFAKA, 97. Rosembergne DA SILVA.
Booking: JULIO CESAR 34′.
