Persib Bandung qualify for AFC Champions

Persib Bandung have qualified for the AFC Champions League Two 2026/27 Group Stage after a 1-0 playoff victory over Manila Digger FC. Mariano Peralta scored the decisive goal in the 88th minute of the match played on Monday.

Head coach Igor Tolic praised his team's patience and defensive discipline in a difficult contest. According to the AFC report, Tolic felt his side deserved the win after limiting Manila Digger's opportunities while remaining composed in search of a breakthrough.

"I can say this was a difficult match. But I want to congratulate the players because they didn't give their opponents many chances," Tolic said. He added that his team created chances, were patient, and managed to stop most counter-attacks. "I think we deserved to win and advance to the next round of the AFC Champions League Two."

Group Stage Draw

The victory secures Persib the final berth in the Group Stage. They have been drawn in Group E alongside Korea Republic’s FC Seoul, Australia’s Melbourne Victory FC and Vietnam’s The Cong - Viettel FC. The group stage is scheduled to kick off on September 16. The team's full continental fixtures will be a key focus as they prepare.

Focus on Domestic Fixtures

Tolic stated that the team is not looking too far ahead and will focus on domestic commitments first. He outlined the immediate schedule, which includes two more Liga 1 matches before the continental campaign begins. The club's upcoming fixtures include a crucial derby against Persija Jakarta.

"We haven't thought that far ahead because our next game is on the 16th," Tolic explained. "So we have two more games before then. Now we're resting today and tomorrow and we'll start preparing for the PSM Makassar match."

He acknowledged the challenge ahead but expressed happiness at the team's progress, saying, "It will be a challenge but we're also happy to have made progress."

Manila Digger's Pride in Defeat

Manila Digger head coach Juan Esteva admitted the late defeat was difficult to accept. He took pride in his team's spirited display against a strong opponent.

"We're disappointed. We fought against a great team until the end," Esteva said. He noted his team was under pressure at times but also controlled periods of the match and created chances. "Of course, we were under pressure at times due to the quality of our opponents but we also controlled the match and had chances."

Esteva attributed the late concession to a lack of experience. He cited a demanding schedule of friendlies and the absence of several players, which limited fresh attacking options. "Our lack of experience led to us conceding a last-minute goal. We played several friendlies, which was physically demanding."

Despite the loss, he expressed pride in his team's effort. "We played a good football match and I think they (Persib) were scared because with the score 0-0 with 10 minutes left, anything could happen. I'm proud because we tried until the end."