2015 AFC Cup final

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

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]

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

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).

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

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

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

  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.