Indonesia’s Dewa United booked their place in the quarter-finals of the 2025/26 AFC Challenge League in emphatic fashion after overpowering Myanmar’s Shan United 4-1 on November 1 at the Indomilk Arena in Tangerang Regency.
A vibrant attacking display saw Egy Maulana Vikri, Jaja, Alexis Messidoro, and Rafael Struick all find the back of the net, ensuring Jan Olde Riekerink’s men clinched top spot in Group E — edging Phnom Penh Crown of Cambodia on goal difference despite the Crown edging out Chinese Taipei’s Tainan City 3-2 in the early kick-off.
From the opening whistle, the Banten Warriors seized control of proceedings, pressing their visitors deep inside their own half. Shan United goalkeeper Pyaye Phyo Aung was immediately called into action, racing off his line in the fifth minute to deny Stefano Lilipaly from close range, before Wahyu Prasetyo sent a header rippling the side netting moments later.
The early dominance soon paid off. In the 10th minute, Messidoro charged toward the penalty area and sliced open the defense with a perfectly weighted through ball to Lilipaly, who unselfishly squared it across for Egy Maulana. The Indonesian winger made no mistake, calmly slotting a left-footed effort into the bottom corner to give the hosts a deserved lead.
Dewa United doubled their advantage just over ten minutes later in stunning fashion. Collecting the ball 25 yards from goal, Jaja curled a beautiful effort past the outstretched Pyaye Phyo Aung, the strike nestling into the far corner to ignite celebrations among the home supporters.
The home side continued to pour forward with intent, Messidoro blasting narrowly over in the 29th minute, followed by speculative efforts from Jaja and Egy that sailed just over the bar as Dewa United dominated possession and territory.
Yet, Shan United offered a reminder of their threat before the interval. With four minutes left in the first half, a skirmish broke out within the Dewa United penalty area as Shan United tried to force their way in. Sonny Stevens was forced into a low save from Nanda Kyaw, but the rebound fell kindly for Matheus Souza, with the former PSMS Medan and Persekat Tegal striker reacting the quickest to pull one back for the visitors.
The Myanmar outfit nearly found an equaliser in first-half stoppage time when Ye Min Thu flicked on Myat Kaung Khant’s corner at the near post, but Stevens showed sharp reflexes to palm the attempt away and preserve his team’s advantage.
The second half saw Dewa United reassert control, and their pressure was rewarded just before the hour mark. A foul on Rafael Struick by Zwe Khant Min inside the box handed Messidoro the chance from the penalty spot. The Argentine playmaker confidently dispatched the spot-kick into the top corner to restore a two-goal cushion.
Barely two minutes later, Struick turned scorer himself. Pouncing on a defensive error nearly 30 yards out, the former Brisbane Roar forward surged toward goal and unleashed a ferocious strike past the helpless Pyaye Phyo Aung to make it 4-1. The relief was palpable in Struick’s face as he roared loudly after scoring, as he had ended a 3-month long goal drought that led to him being subjected with intense criticism from supporters all over Indonesia.
The match’s tempo gradually slowed down as Dewa United seemed content in defending their three-goal cushion, which they did after Shan United offered little going forward, sealing a comprehensive victory and passage to the knockout stages for the Banten Warriors.