Persib Bandung defeats FC Seoul in historic ACL Two victory

Persib Bandung secured a historic 1-0 victory against FC Seoul in their opening Group E match of the 2026/2027 AFC Champions League Two. The match, held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on September 16, 2026, was decided by a fifth-minute goal from Julio Cesar, who capitalized on a corner kick delivered by Marc Klok.

Despite facing intense pressure from the K League 1 leaders throughout the second half, Persib's defense and goalkeeper Teja Paku Alam successfully maintained the lead. The win marks a significant milestone as the first time an Indonesian club has defeated a South Korean opponent in an Asian continental competition.

Persib coach Igor Tolic noted that the victory was achieved despite a demanding schedule and recent domestic fatigue. FC Seoul coach Kim Gi-dong had opted to rotate his squad, including playing youth players, to manage player fitness, which may have influenced the outcome.