In a thrilling encounter at the Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, Persija Jakarta secured a vital victory against their Group H rivals, bolstering their chances for progression in the tournament. Initially entering the match with a three-point deficit against their opponents and only three games remaining in the group stage, Persija executed an impressive display of offensive pressure, creating multiple scoring opportunities throughout the match.
As the game approached its final moments, and with 92 minutes elapsed without any scoring, a defining moment emerged when Rezaldi Hehanusa delivered a long diagonal ball that found Brazilian forward Addison. With remarkable precision, Addison executed a flawless volley that hit the back of the net, igniting exuberance among the over 46,000 passionate fans who had fervently supported their team.
Following the match, Sofyan, Persija’s 38-year-old captain who has made over 450 appearances since joining the club in 2003, expressed his gratitude, stating, “First of all, I feel grateful and blessed that the team got the win. We needed to ensure we secured three points at home to avoid falling too far behind Song Lam.”
This victory propelled Persija into second place within a tightly contested Group H, where they now share seven points with Song Lam Nghe An and Johor Darul Ta’zim, each differentiated solely by goal difference. Persija possesses a favorable head-to-head record against the Vietnamese team, positioning themselves with control over their progression. The team recognizes that wins against Malaysia’s Johor and the already eliminated Tampines Rovers of Singapore would guarantee their advancement, irrespective of Song Lam Nghe An’s results.
Looking ahead, Persija’s next challenge will be hosting 2015 AFC Cup champions Johor. Anticipation is high within the Indonesian capital for this upcoming match, with expectations for another substantial crowd, as the stadium has previously witnessed record attendances for group stage games in the competition.
Sofyan outlined the team’s aspirations, affirming, “Our target for the next game against Johor is to win. We want to ensure our exit from this group is successful.” Given the current dynamics of the group, this upcoming match holds significant implications for both teams involved, as each vies for a spot in the next stage of the competition.
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