Singapore's Tampines Rovers advanced to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) 2025/2026 after a remarkable turnaround in the round of 16. Despite a 0-4 first-leg loss to Cong An Ha Noi, the result was annulled by the AFC due to regulatory violations, leading to a 6-1 aggregate win for Tampines. Meanwhile, Indonesia's Persib Bandung was eliminated earlier.
In the AFC Champions League Two (ACL Two) 2025/2026, Singapore's Tampines Rovers pulled off a miracle by advancing to the quarterfinals despite a dire situation in the round of 16. They suffered a heavy 0-4 defeat in the first leg against Vietnam's Cong An Ha Noi. Statistical projections from Footy Rankings gave Cong An Ha Noi a 99 percent chance of progressing, with Tampines at just 1 percent.
The tide turned when the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) annulled Cong An Ha Noi's 4-0 victory. The Vietnamese club had fielded two ineligible players, Stefan Mauk and China, who were suspended due to accumulated yellow cards. As a result, the first-leg score was revised to a 0-3 loss for Cong An Ha Noi.
In the second leg, Tampines Rovers fought back with a 3-1 win over Cong An Ha Noi. Securing a 6-1 aggregate, they clinched their spot in the quarterfinals. This achievement has been hailed as one of the most dramatic comebacks in this season's ACL Two.
In contrast, Indonesia's Persib Bandung failed to advance further. They lost 0-3 in the first leg to Ratchaburi FC, then won 1-0 in the second, but the 1-3 aggregate led to their elimination. This highlights the varying fortunes of Southeast Asian teams in the competition.
Additionally, Thailand's Bangkok United, featuring Indonesian national team player Pratama Arhan, also reached the quarterfinals by defeating Macarthur FC 4-2 on aggregate. Ironically, Bangkok United had lost twice to Persib in the group stage: 0-2 and 0-1.
