Persib Bandung edged Manila Digger 1-0 in the AFC Cup Preliminary Round at the Gelora Bandung Lautan Api Stadium on Sunday. The hosts controlled possession and territory throughout, but it took until the eighty-ninth minute for a breakthrough. M. Peralta's late strike proved decisive in what was a tight contest.
By then, Persib had been pressing for an opening. They dominated possession at sixty-one percent and registered ninety-five attacks compared to Manila's seventy-five. The visitors struggled to create clear-cut chances, managing only three shots on target against the hosts' five. And here's the thing — Persib's dominance didn't translate into early goals.
The match remained goalless until the closing stages. Both sides made several substitutions in the second half, with Persib bringing on L. Menalo and A. Alis on the hour mark. Manila responded with Z. Taningco's introduction in the eighty-sixth minute, but it was too late. Peralta's finish gave the hosts all three points.
Match Statistics
- Persib: 61% possession, 95 attacks, 9 corners, 14 shots (5 on target)
- Manila: 39% possession, 75 attacks, 0 corners, 7 shots (3 on target)
The statistics tell you most of the story. Persib created more opportunities but couldn't convert them until the dying moments. Manila's shot accuracy was marginally better at forty-three percent, yet they failed to find the net. One yellow card each — A. Alis for Persib and O. Njie for Manila — kept the discipline levels even.
This result extends Persib's strong recent form. They've won four of their last five matches, including victories over Bali United and Sabah. Manila, meanwhile, have been more inconsistent, with their last competitive matches showing mixed results. The victory moves Persib forward in the competition, while Manila will need to regroup for their next fixture.