Persija went into the Group H game at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium three points behind their opponents with three games to play, before creating chance upon chance in what proceeded to be an onslaught onto the visiting goal.

Roared on by a passionate home support, Persija had the better of the opening stages but struggled to create any clear-cut chances, with striker Marko Simic’s header over the bar from Ismed Sofyan’s cross the closest they came in the first 30 minutes.

As the half wore on, the game was being played almost entirely in the Song Lam Nghe An half and it was Simic who looked the most likely as the big Croatian curled over as the interval approached, before Riko Simanjuntak had a goal ruled out for offside just minutes later.

Persija continued to apply the pressure after the restart and substitute Addison’s left-foot effort was well saved by goalkeeper Le Quang Dai, before the forward had an effort ruled out for handball soon after.

Simic’s header from Rezaldi Hehanusa’s corner was cleared off the line and the forward came close once more when he headed Addison’s cross from the left agonisingly wide.

Bambang Pamungkas was then introduced with 12 minutes remaining as the hosts went all out for the win and the striker’s looping header was pushed over by Quang Dai in the 85th minute.

The visitors could have snatched a smash-and-grab goal as the clocked ticked down but Ho Tuan Tai curled just wide with two minutes remaining as the draw seemed the inevitable outcome.

But Persija then won it in the most dramatic of fashion when Addison volleyed home a superb effort from the right side of the area in the third minute of added time after Hehanusa’s 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-head record, with the Indonesian side to host Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on Matchday Five, when the Vietnamese team play Singapore’s Tampines Rovers in Vinh.

Safawi Rasid opened the scoring in style for the hosts at the Tan Sri Dato’ Haji Hassan Yunos Stadium, rifling home a piledriver from distance after being fed by Subramaniam Kunalan in the 13th minute.

Ryutaro Megumi fired a warning shot for Tampines three minutes before half time though, and from the resultant corner La’Vere Corbin-Ong handled to gift the visitors a penalty, which Khairul Amri gleefully converted in the 45th minute.

Ahmad Hazwan sealed all three points for Johor Darul Ta’zim 11 minutes from time though, clipping home a first time finish with his left foot after being played in behind by a delicious Natxo Insa through-ball.

The victory enabled Johor Darul Ta’zim to keep pace with Song Lam Nghe An of Vietnam and Indonesia’s Persija Jakarta on seven points, while Tampines prop up the group with just one.

Both teams will be on the road for their next matches on April 10, when Johor Darul Ta’zim travel to Jakarta while Tampines are away to Song Lam Nghe An.

The hosts ultimately managed to keep pace in Group D, but could have saved themselves plenty of hassle with greater concentration at both ends of the pitch.

Attack, attack, attack for Altyn Asyr

The visitors started the brighter of the two teams at Thuwunna Stadium as they almost effortlessly passed the ball around, and were gifted the chance to open the scoring when Win Hein Phyo handled the ball in the box, with Spanish striker Maranon making no mistake from the resulting spot-kick to give the visitors the lead.

Risto Vidakovic’s side continued to dominate as the home side struggled to retain possession and create any meaningful attacks.

Manuel Ott should’ve doubled the lead on the hour mark when Maranon dinked a left-footed cross into the path of an on-rushing Ott, but the midfielder pulled his shot wide.

Ceres wasted another glorious chance to double their lead 20 minutes later when Stephan Schrock slid the ball across the box for OJ Porteria, but with an open net at his mercy the substitute could only hit his shot into the post, with his follow-up effort well saved by Phone Thitsar Min.

But the solitary goal was enough for Ceres to take all three points and retain their spot atop Group F.

After an even opening to the game, Bali had the first chance of note midway through the first half when Stefano Lilipaly’s cross was headed goalwards by Ilija Spasojevic, but goalkeeper Bui Tien Dung reacted well to parry to safety.

The hosts had a chance of their own on the half hour when Ngyuen Trong Huang struck from 25 yards out but ‘keeper Wawan Hendrawan was equal to the challenge.

Bali’s Kevin Brands did well to create space for himself on the edge of the area eight minutes before the interval, only to fire over when he should have done better as the sides went in goalless.

Edward Ofare had a gilt-edged chance to put the hosts one up shortly after the restart but shot at Hendrawan from just a few yards out after being teed up by Trong Huang, before the striker volleyed straight at the custodian again just minutes later.

Pape Omar Faye then fired against the side netting as the hour approached and saw his volley well saved soon after as Thanh Hoa put the visitors under sustained pressure in search of the first goal.

Spasojevic’s effort from distance flew just over as Bali showed they remained a threat as the game entered its final 10 minutes, but that was the last of the goalmouth action.

Bali will next face group leaders Yangon United in Myanmar in four weeks’ time, while third-placed Thanh Hoa travel to the Philippines to take on Global Cebu, with Yangon now firm favourites to advance to the knockout rounds as group winners.