The 2015 AFC Cup final was the final match of the 2015 AFC Cup, the 12th edition of the AFC Cup, a football competition organized by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) for clubs from 'developing countries' in Asia according to the Vision Asia plan.
The final was contested as a single match between Tajikistani team Istiklol and the Malaysian team Johor Darul Ta'zim. The match was hosted by Istiklol at the Pamir Stadium in Dushanbe on 31 October 2015. Leandro Velázquez scored the only goal in a match for Johor Darul Ta'zim, who won the match 1–0 and clinched their first title.
Venue
The Pamir Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. It is the home stadium of Istiklol and holds 24,000 spectators.
Background Istiklol qualified for the 2015 AFC Cup group stage as the 2014 Tajik League and 2014 Tajik Cup winners. This was their first appearance in the AFC Cup.
Johor Darul Ta'zim qualified for the 2015 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off as the 2014 Malaysia Super League champions, but failed to advance to the AFC Champions League group stage, and entered the AFC Cup group stage. This was their second appearance in the AFC Cup.
Both teams reached the AFC Cup final for the first time, and Johor Darul Ta'zim was the first team from East Asia Zone to reach the final.
Road to final
Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).
IstiklolRound Johor Darul Ta'zimAFC CupQualifying play-offAFC Champions LeagueOpponentResultOpponentResultByeRound 1 Bengaluru FC2–1 (H)Round 2 Bangkok Glass0–3 (A)AFC CupOpponentResultGroup stageOpponentResult Erbil1–3 (H)Matchday 1 East Bengal4–1 (H) Ahal2–1 (A)Matchday 2 Balestier Khalsa1–0 (A) Al-Qadsia2–2 (A)Matchday 3 Kitchee0–2 (A) Al-Qadsia2–0 (H)Matchday 4 Kitchee2–0 (H) Erbil0–0 (A)Matchday 5 East Bengal1–0 (A) Ahal5–2 (H)Matchday 6 Balestier Khalsa3–0 (H)Group C winnerFinal standingsGroup F winnerOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd legKnockout stageOpponentAgg.1st leg2nd leg Al-Wahda1–1 (4–2 p) (H) (single match)Round of 16 Ayeyawady United5–0 (H) (single match) Pahang5–34–0 (H)1–3 (A)Quarter-finals South China4–21–1 (H)3–1 (A) Al-Kuwait0–4 (A)Cancelled (H)Semi-finals Al-Qadsia1–3 (A)Cancelled (H)
Rules The final was played as a single match, with the host team decided by draw. If tied after regulation, extra time and, if necessary, penalty shoot-out would be used to decide the winner.
Match
GK 1 Nikola Stošić DF 2 Siyovush Asrori DF 11 Jakhongir Jalilov DF 15 Petro Kovalchuk DF 22 Mahdi Chahjouei MF 8 Nuriddin Davronov MF 9 Khurshed Makhmudov MF 18 Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev MF 63 Manuchekhr Dzhalilov FW 10 Manuel Rodríguez FW 17 Dilshod Vasiev (c)Substitute GK 16 Alisher Tuychiev GK 35 Kurban Boboev DF 19 Akhtam Nazarov MF 7 Umedzhon Sharipov MF 21 Romish Jalilov MF 39 Parvizdzhon Umarbayev Coach Mubin Ergashev GK 1 Farizal Marlias DF 6 Marcos António DF 7 Aidil Zafuan DF 12 S. Kunanlan DF 42 Fazly Mazlan MF 8 Safiq Rahim (c) MF 14 Hariss Harun MF 21 Jasazrin Jamaluddin FW 9 Leandro Velázquez FW 10 Safee Sali FW 19 Luciano FigueroaSubstitute GK 24 Izham Tarmizi DF 18 Mahali Jasuli DF 26 Amer Saidin MF 13 Gary Steven Robbat MF 16 Shakir Shaari MF 23 S. Chanturu FW 17 Amri Yahyah Coach Mario Gomez
AFC Man of the Match: Safiq Rahim (Johor Darul Ta'zim)
Assistant referees: Toshiyuki Nagi (Japan) Ochi Shinji (Japan) Fourth official: Jumpei Iida (Japan)
References
External links AFC Cup, the-AFC.com