Persib Bandung secured a stunning 3-1 comeback victory over Port FC in their opening Group B fixture of the ASEAN Club Championship Shopee Cup 2026/27 at Thammasat Stadium on October 8, 2026. Trailing through a Jude Soonsup-Bell penalty, manager Igor Tolic’s side executed a late three-goal surge in the final minutes to claim the three points.
Teja Paku Alam Keeps Score Scoreless in First Half
The initial 45 minutes at Thammasat Stadium offered very little in terms of expected goals (xG) or clinical final-third entries. Persib initially attempted to establish a controlled build-up, yet found themselves frequently stymied by Port FC’s aggressive mid-block. Teja Paku Alam proved indispensable early on, denying clear-cut opportunities from Peeradol Chamrasamee and Erik Sviatchenko to keep the defensive line intact through a scoreless first half. Manager Igor Tolic deployed a starting lineup featuring Teja Paku Alam in goal, supported by a defensive block of Gabriel Mutombo, Patricio Matricardi, Julio Cesar, and Ikhwan Tanamal, while Marc Klok and Adam Alis patrolled the central midfield ahead of an attacking quartet comprising Eliano Reijnders, Luka Menalo, Rosembergne Da Silva, and Uilliam Barros.
The tactical equilibrium shattered shortly after the interval. In the 63rd minute, a defensive lapse from Ikhwan Tanamal inside the penalty area forced the referee to point to the spot. Jude Soonsup-Bell stepped up to dispatch the penalty past Teja, breaking the deadlock and forcing Tolic to abandon his conservative setup in search of an equalizer.
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In-Game Adjustments and Late Remontada
Trailing by a goal, the technical staff initiated immediate personnel shifts. The introduction of Balsa Sekulic and Dedi Kusnandar in the 67th minute added verticality to the midfield, while later substitutions injected vital pace into the wide channels. Despite a disallowed penalty following a VAR review on Nitipong Selanon’s challenge against Mariano Peralta, Persib maintained relentless pressure in search of a low-block breakthrough.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 86th minute. Sekulic slipped a precise through-ball into the path of Peralta, who evaded his markers to slide a clinical left-footed finish past Michael Falkesgaard. Momentum swung decisively in favor of the visitors as stoppage time approached.
| Match Event | Minute | Scorer / Player Involved |
|---|---|---|
| Port FC Goal (Pen) | 63′ | Jude Soonsup-Bell |
| Persib Equalizer | 86′ | Mariano Peralta (Assist: Balsa Sekulic) |
| Persib Lead | 90+3′ | Rosembergne “Berguinho” Da Silva |
| Persib Third | 90+5′ | Luka Menalo (Assist: Mariano Peralta) |
Stoppage-Time Efficiency Seals the Match
With the score level, the visitors capitalized entirely on defensive disorganization from Port FC during the eight minutes of additional time. In the 93rd minute, Luka Menalo delivered a searching cross from the right flank, finding Berguinho, who drove a low, decisive effort into the bottom corner. Two minutes later, Menalo capped off his comprehensive performance by meeting Peralta’s looping delivery with a diving header, securing the 3-1 scoreline.
The victory elevates Persib to second place in Group B of the ASEAN Club Championship, matching Johor Darul Ta'zim on points and showing the team is becoming more resilient in continental fixtures. The squad now pivots immediately toward a demanding domestic and regional calendar that promises severe tests of physical recovery and squad rotation.
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