Persija went into the Group H game at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium level on points with their opponents and having lost 3-0 in the first meeting in Johor Baru. However, a stunning hat-trick within the game's opening 19 minutes from Simic ensured the match was effectively over before the midway point of the first half.

Both teams came into the heavyweight AFC Cup clash knowing a win was needed to keep pace with Song Lam Nghe An at the top of Group H and the home side sent the raucous crowd into raptures with an early goal when Simic got on the end of a perfectly weighted cross from Riko Simanjuntak in just the eighth minute.

The Jakmania were still celebrating when Simic doubled the lead just four minutes later with a thunderous header from Rezaldi Hehanusa’s pinpoint free-kick.

The home side were in dream land after 20 minutes when Riko and Ramandi Lestaluhu combined beautifully down the right-hand side to set up Simic for his hat-trick, as the Indonesian side had JDT on the ropes.

The half time introduction of JDT midfielder Safiq Rahim helped the Malaysians stem the tide as they started to enjoy more of the play, creating a few chances of their own, none better than when Darren Lok made space for himself in the box only to see his shot blocked by Maman Abdurrahman.

Simic put the icing on the cake from the penalty spot in the 87th minute after Azrif Nasrulhaq took down Riko in the area.

The win moves Persija Jakarta to the top of Group H, ahead of Song Lam Nghe An based on their head-to-head record, ahead of their final group stage match in Singapore against bottom-placed Tampines Rovers.

JDT, meanwhile, must pick themselves up for a home match against Song Lam Nghe An that will determine if they progress to the knockout rounds.

The Vietnamese side were looking to keep their unbeaten record at Vinh Stadium alive and opened the scoring after just fifteen minutes when Nigerian striker Michael Olaha headed home from Dau Thanh Phong’s corner.

Against the run of play the Singaporeans drew level with a little over five minutes remaining in the first half. The home side could only clear a corner to the edge of the area, where Japanese midfielder Ryutaro Megumi recycled the ball into the area, with Irfan Najeeb perfectly placed to loop a header into the back of the net, with goalkeeper Le Van Hung stranded off his line.

Persija were too hot for the Singaporeans to handle at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, with the hosts dominating from start to finish despite going down to 10 men early in the second half.

Simic solely focused on shots

The Croatian striker put Persija 1-0 up in the 12th minute at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium, slamming Riko Simanjuntak’s cut back from the right under goalkeeper Syazwan Buhari to give the hosts the early initiative.

Rezaldi Hehanusa then doubled his side’s advantage four minutes before half time, cutting inside from the left wing before rifling home with his right foot from 20 yards.

Persija centre-back Jaime was dismissed for a second yellow card in just the 48th minute, but two more Simic strikes in the 74th and 86th minutes sandwiched a 77th-minute consolation for Tampines from Khairul Amri to ensure the 10 men left with all three points.

Next, Persija travel to Vietnam to take on Group H leaders Song Lam Nghe An FC, while Matchday 3 will also see Tampines host Malaysia’s Johor Darul Ta’zim on March 6.

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.

Tuesday's hard fought 0-0 draw away at Group H leaders Song Lam Nghe An puts Persija Jakarta right back into the reckoning for a place in the AFC Cup knockout stage ahead of two vital home ties, according to their number 9 Marko Simic.

The Indonesians endured an opener to forget on February 14 when they lost 3-0 away at Johor Darul Ta'zim of Malaysia, but the Matchday Three draw in Vietnam was a solid follow-up to the 4-1 win over Singapore's Tampines Rovers in Jakarta.

Crucially, Simic and his side now have two consecutive fixtures on their own turf, where they will look for the fans to turn out again in numbers after the Persija fans broke an AFC Cup Group Stage attendance record against Tampines.