PETALING JAYA: Selangor’s AFC Champions League Two campaign ended in disappointment once again after they fell 2-3 to Indonesia’s Persib Bandung on Thursday (Nov 6).
The Red Giants’ defeat at the Petaling Jaya Stadium was their fourth straight loss in Group G - a result that confirmed their failure to progress beyond the group stage for the second consecutive season.
Selangor got off to a dream start, taking the lead as early as the third minute when Cape Verdean winger Alvin Fortes dazzled down the flank, beating his marker before delivering a low cross that Brazilian striker Chrigor Moraes calmly slotted home.
Their advantage doubled in the 17th minute when Persib centreback Patricio Matricardi turned Zach Clough’s effort into his own net, gifting the hosts a 2-0 lead.
However, Persib regrouped after the break and came out firing. French forward Andrew Jung pulled one back in the 48th minute, sparking a spirited comeback.
The equaliser arrived in the 81st minute when Adam Alis latched onto a precise through ball from Thom Haye and coolly finished past Selangor goalkeeper Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman.
Persib continued to press for the winner, but Sikh Izhan Nazrel Sikh Azman produced several fine saves to keep Selangor in the game.
The match was briefly halted following a fracas in the away section, though Persib captain Marc Klok managed to calm the situation down.
There was heartbreak for Selangor in the dying minute as Alis pounced on a rare error from Izhan to secure all three points for the Indonesian side - a result that leaves Persib on the brink of qualification for the knockout stages and Selangor out of the knockout phase.
