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.[1]

2015 AFC Cup Final
Event2015 AFC Cup
Date31 October 2015
VenuePamir Stadium, Dushanbe
Man of the MatchMalaysia Safiq Rahim
RefereeMinoru Tōjō (Japan)
Attendance18,000
2014
2016

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.[2] 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.[3]

Venue edit

 
Pamir Stadium

The Pamir Stadium is a multi-use stadium in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. It is the home stadium of Istiklol and holds 24,000 spectators.

Background edit

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 edit

Note: In all results below, the score of the finalist is given first (H: home; A: away).

  Istiklol Round   Johor Darul Ta'zim
AFC Cup Qualifying play-off AFC Champions League
Opponent Result Opponent Result
Bye Round 1   Bengaluru FC 2–1 (a.e.t.) (H)
Round 2   Bangkok Glass 0–3 (A)
AFC Cup
Opponent Result Group stage Opponent Result
  Erbil 1–3 (H) Matchday 1   East Bengal 4–1 (H)
  Ahal 2–1 (A) Matchday 2   Balestier Khalsa 1–0 (A)
  Al-Qadsia 2–2 (A) Matchday 3   Kitchee 0–2 (A)
  Al-Qadsia 2–0 (H) Matchday 4   Kitchee 2–0 (H)
  Erbil 0–0 (A) Matchday 5   East Bengal 1–0 (A)
  Ahal 5–2 (H) Matchday 6   Balestier Khalsa 3–0 (H)
Group C winner

Pos Team Pld Pts
1   Istiklol 6 11
2   Al-Qadsia 6 10
3   Erbil 6 7
4   Ahal 6 6
Source: AFC
Final standings Group F winner

Pos Team Pld Pts
1   Johor Darul Ta'zim 6 15
2   Kitchee 6 11
3   East Bengal 6 5
4   Balestier Khalsa 6 3
Source: AFC
Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg Knockout stage Opponent Agg. 1st leg 2nd leg
  Al-Wahda 1–1 (a.e.t.) (4–2 p) (H) (single match) Round of 16   Ayeyawady United 5–0 (H) (single match)
  Pahang 5–3 4–0 (H) 1–3 (A) Quarter-finals   South China 4–2 1–1 (H) 3–1 (A)
  Al-Kuwait w/o 0–4 (A) Cancelled (H) Semi-finals   Al-Qadsia w/o 1–3 (A) Cancelled (H)

Rules edit

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.[1]

Match edit

Istiklol  0–1  Johor Darul Ta'zim
Report Velázquez   23'
Attendance: 18,000
Referee: Minoru Tōjō (Japan)
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
GK 1   Nikola Stošić
DF 2   Siyovush Asrori   77'
DF 11   Jakhongir Jalilov
DF 15   Petro Kovalchuk
DF 22   Mahdi Chahjouei
MF 8   Nuriddin Davronov
MF 9   Khurshed Makhmudov   73'
MF 18   Fatkhullo Fatkhuloev
MF 63   Manuchekhr Dzhalilov
FW 10   Manuel Rodríguez   86'
FW 17   Dilshod Vasiev (c)
Substitute
GK 16   Alisher Tuychiev
GK 35   Kurban Boboev
DF 19   Akhtam Nazarov   86'
MF 7   Umedzhon Sharipov
MF 21   Romish Jalilov
MF 39   Parvizdzhon Umarbayev   73'
Coach
  Mubin Ergashev
GK 1   Farizal Marlias   54'
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   51'   86'
FW 10   Safee Sali   53'   60'
FW 19   Luciano Figueroa
Substitute
GK 24   Izham Tarmizi
DF 18   Mahali Jasuli   60'
DF 26   Amer Saidin
MF 13   Gary Steven Robbat   90+5'   86'
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 edit

  1. ^ a b "AFC Cup 2015 Competition Regulations" (PDF). AFC.
  2. ^ "FIFA Suspension of Kuwait FA: AFC Cup Implications". AFC.
  3. ^ "Johor Darul Ta'zim Crowned AFC Cup Champions". AFC.

External links edit