Persib Advance to ACL Two Round of 16, FC Seoul Still Must Fight in Remaining Matches
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- Persib Bandung memastikan tiket ke babak 16 besar ACL Two setelah meraih kemenangan dramatis di kandang Melbourne Victory.
- FC Seoul menjadi kandidat terkuat untuk mendampingi Persib, tetapi posisinya belum sepenuhnya aman karena masih ada dua pertandingan tersisa.
- Dengan koleksi 12 poin sempurna, Persib tinggal menunggu lawan di babak gugur sementara Melbourne Victory dan The Cong-Viettel bersaing untuk posisi ketiga.
Persib Bandung secured their place in the round of 16 of the AFC Champions League (ACL) 2 2026/2027 after defeating hosts Melbourne Victory 2-1 on matchday four of Group E at AAMI Park, Wednesday (4/11/2026). The win gives Bojan Hodak's side 12 points from four matches, confirming their position in the top two of the standings.
Although they fell behind first through a Julio Cesar own goal, Persib were able to turn the match around. The additional three points not only cement their position at the top of the group but also signal that an Indonesian club can compete at the Asian level. The away win is proof of the team's increasingly mature mentality.
Meanwhile, FC Seoul opened up the chance to join Persib in the next round after beating The Cong-Viettel 3-0 at Sangam Stadium on Wednesday night WIB. Goals from Moon Seon-min, Anderson Oliveira, and a Lucas Alves own goal brought FC Seoul to 7 points. However, their position is not entirely safe because Melbourne Victory still have a chance to overtake them.
Persib's win is also good news for Indonesian football. Amid tight domestic competition, achievements in Asian competitions can raise the coefficient of Indonesian clubs and provide valuable experience for young players. Persib's success in reaching the knockout stage is expected to spur other clubs to perform on the international stage.
"We played with discipline and did not panic even when we were behind. The players showed a champion's character," said Persib coach Bojan Hodak in a post-match press conference.
With two matches remaining, Persib still have a chance to sweep the group stage. Even so, the main focus has surely shifted to the round of 16. Meanwhile, FC Seoul will try to secure their ticket without depending on results elsewhere. Melbourne Victory and The Cong-Viettel also remain open to improving their positions.
The big question: can Persib go further and challenge Asia's big clubs? The round of 16 will be the real test. With their impressive form so far, it is not impossible for the Pangeran Biru to write history again.
