AFC Cup Final: Key Statistics

FC Istiklol and Johor Darul Ta’zim are meeting in the AFC Cup for the first time.

Istiklol are making their AFC Cup debut this season while JDT are making their second appearance in the competition following their debut in 2009 as Johor FC.

FC Istiklol

• FC Istiklol are just the second central Asian side to reach the AFC Cup final after Nasaf of Uzbekistan, who beat Kuwait Sporting Club 2-1 in the 2011 final.
• This is their second appearance in an Asian club tournament final following their 2-1 victory over Palestinian side Markaz Shabab Al Amari in the 2012 AFC President’s Cup final. They came from behind to win that game at the Republican Central Stadium with captain Dilshod Vasiev scoring the winner in the 78th minute.
• Since losing 3-1 to Arbil of Iraq in their AFC Cup opener in Dushanbe in February, Istiklol have been unbeaten in their last four home matches. They won three of those games and beat Al Wahda of Syria on penalties in the Round of 16 after a 1-1 draw.
• This is the second time that they are facing Malaysian opposition this season after their quarter-finals clash against Pahang FA. Istiklol won that tie 5-3 on aggregate after winning 4-0 at home and going down 3-1 in Malaysia.
• Manuchehr Dzhalilov and Khurshed Makhmudov are the club’s leading scorers in the tournament with four goals each.

Domestic form

Istiklol edged CSKA Pomir 1-0 on 18 October to consolidate their lead at the top of the Tajik League. They have a 10-point lead over second-placed Khujand and need only two points from their final three games to retain the title.

Johor Darul Ta’zim

• Johor Darul Ta’zim are the first Southeast Asian side to reach the AFC Cup final and the first Malaysian team to get to the final of an Asian club tournament since Selangor FA finished runners-up in the inaugural Asian Club Championship in 1967.
• While they are unbeaten at home, JDT have a mixed record in their away matches in this season’s AFC Cup, winning games in Singapore and India during the Group Stage and beating South China 3-1 in Hong Kong in the quarter-finals but losing 2-0 to Kitchee in Hong Kong and going down 3-1 to Qadsia SC in Kuwait in the semi-finals.
• JDT will have Argentinian forward Luciano Figueroa and defender S.Chanthuru available after it was determined that their suspensions for the cancelled semi-final against Qadsia had been served.
• Figueroa has netted five goals for JDT during their AFC Cup campaign while captain Safiq Rahim and Safee Sali have four each.

Domestic form

Having retained their Malaysian Super League title in August, JDT are looking to complete a domestic double after beating Sarawak 3-0 on 24 October to advance to the quarter-finals of the Malaysia Cup.

Photo: WSG