Melbourne Victory 1–2 Persib: two late goals turn defeat into qualification
Menalo equalised in the 85th minute and Sekulic struck in the 90th as Persib overturned Victory’s lead and secured a knockout-round place.
Persib Bandung beat Melbourne Victory 2–1 at Melbourne Rectangular Stadium on 4 November. AFC’s official report confirms the comeback secured Persib a place in the AFC Champions League Two knockout rounds.
A lead undone in the closing minutes
Melbourne Victory’s match report records a goalless first half and a Julio Cesar own goal in the 71st minute that put the hosts ahead. The club describes Brendan Hamill’s pressure as part of the move that forced the breakthrough.
Luka Menalo equalised in the 85th minute. Balsa Sekulic then scored in the 90th to complete the turnaround.
Why the ending changes the result
Our reading is that the final minutes transformed both the match and its consequence. Victory had moved ahead with less than 20 minutes of regulation remaining, but Persib converted two late scoring moments into a win and confirmed progress. The sequence supports that conclusion without needing an unverified possession or chance-quality claim.
What comes next for Victory
Victory’s official report lists away league matches against Adelaide United and Auckland FC next, followed by a home ACL Two group match against Thể Công–Viettel at Kardinia Park on 25 November.
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Sources & further reading
Reporting supports the facts; the interpretation is our editorial view. Published 04 Nov 2026. Updated 05 Nov 2026, 07:01 CAT.