Marko Simic of Persija Jakarta heads a ball during a match against Song Lam Nghe An during the AFC Cup’s Group H. Persija win 1-0. (Source: the-afc.com) Hanoi (VNA) - Song Lam Nghe An suffered their first setback in thisseason’s Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Cup on March 14 after losing toPersija Jakarta 1-0.
The Vietnamese side travelled to Jakarta with only 16 players, with most oftheir top players rested for domestic fixtures.
However, coach Nguyen Duc Thang believed his young could at least bringone point home from the 76,000-seater Gelora Bung Karno Stadium.
Persija had the better of the opening stages but struggled to create anyclear-cut chances, with striker Marko Simic’s header over the bar from IsmedSofyan’s cross the closest they came in the first 30 minutes.
Simic played for three clubs in Vietnam in 2015-16.
As the half wore on, the game was being played almost entirely in the Song LamNghe An half and it was Simic who looked the most likely to score, as the bigCroatian curled over as the interval approached, before RikoSimanjuntak had a goal ruled out for offside minutes before the interval.
Persija continued to pressure the visitors after the break and substituteAdisson’s left-foot effort was well saved by goalkeeper Le Quang Dai, beforethe midfielder had an effort ruled out for handball soon after.
Simic’s header from Rezaldi Hehanusa’s corner was cleared off the line and theforward came close once more when he headed Adisson’s cross from the left wide.
Bambang Pamungkas was then introduced with 12 minutes remaining as the hostswent all out for the win and the striker’s looping header was pushed over by Daiin the 85th minute.
The visitors could have snatched a goal as the clocked ticked downbut Ho Tuan Tai curled just wide with two minutes remaining as the draw seemedthe inevitable outcome.
But Persija won it in dramatic fashion when Adisson volleyed home a superbeffort from the right side of the area in the third minute of added time aftera long ball over the top to send the stadium into raptures.
The win moves Persija above Song Lam Nghe An by virtue of a better head-to-headrecord in Group H, both have seven points.
The Indonesian side will host Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on April 10 whilethe Vietnamese team play Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in Vinh city on April 24.Song Lam Nghe An beat Tampines 2-0 in the reverse fixture on February 10.-VNA
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