It was a win that signaled to those outside their homeland that this was a club, under hugely ambitious ownership, that meant business and had aspirations of reaching the very top. To this day they continue to improve, with a side replete with some of Malaysia's best talent and foreign flair from overseas.

Since victory in Dushanbe, a number of players have departed while others have remained to continue their career progression at JDT. On the anniversary of that famous night, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on those who brought joy to Johor Bahru by revealing what became of the history-making starting XI.

Goalkeeper: Farizal Marlias
Current club: JDT

Brought in ahead of the 2015 season, Farizal Marlias was in and out the team over the course of the campaign as he shared the Number 1 jersey with Izham Tarmizi but he got the nod in the final and produced the goods with a string of saves and a clean sheet.

Farizal went on to establish himself as JDT's first-choice 'keeper and has since picked up a host of titles with the Southern Tigers while he is also his country's main man between the sticks.

Defender: Marcos Antonio
Current club: Retired

Marcos Antonio arrived at JDT in 2014 after previously playing in Portugal, France and Greece among other countries, and the Brazilian proved a huge success, appearing in all bar one of their games in the title-winning campaign.

The defender spent five seasons with the club, picking up a quintet of league titles to go along with the AFC Cup before he retired as a club legend in 2018.

Defender: Aidil Zafuan
Current club: JDT

Aidil Zafuan was one of the early signings in the club's rise to the fore of Malaysian football, with the defender having signed on in 2015 and he has since been an integral part of every trophy JDT have claimed.

Already a member of the Malaysian national team when he joined, Aidil has continued to star for the Harimau Malaya and was part of the side that reached the 2018 AFF (ASEAN Football Federation) final.

Full-back: S. Kunanlan
Current club: JDT

Another player who arrived ahead of the 2015 AFC Cup campaign, right-back S. Kunlanan appeared in every game of the title-winning campaign, starting all bar one as he proved a key member of the side.

It was the start of a hugely successful spell with the club that continues to this day as the now 34-year-old remains part of a team that dominates domestically and continues to improve on the Continent.

Full-back: Fazly Mazlan
Current club: Pahang FA (loan)

Johor native Fazly Mazlan came through the club's youth ranks and, at 21, was the youngest player in the JDT line-up in Dushanbe after only breaking into the team ahead of the quarter-final second-leg victory over Hong Kong's South China AA.

Fazly has enjoyed several fruitful years with his home-state club and has represented his country on a number of occasions. Now 26, he has spent the 2020 campaign on loan at Pahang FA.

Midfielder: Jasazrin Jamaluddin
Current club: Felda United

Like Fazly, Jasazrin Jamaluddin comes from Johor and was one of the few players with the club before its inception into the Johor Darul Ta'zim we know today. The midfielder had been largely used as a substitute during the 2015 campaign but got the nod ahead of the final.

Jasazrin departed JDT after the 2016 season to join Perak before moving to Penang and then Felda United, with whom he recently suffered relegation from the Malaysia Premier League.

Midfielder: Hariss Harun
Current club: JDT

From just across the border in Singapore, Hariss Harun made the move to JDT in 2014 and was a near ever-present in the centre of the park as JDT created history for ASEAN football.

Hariss spent 2017 on loan with Home United in his native Singapore, helping them reach the ASEAN Zonal final, before returning to JDT. He now captains the Southern Tigers.

Midfielder: Safiq Rahim
Current club: Melaka United

One of Malaysia's all-time greatest players, Safiq Rahim captained JDT to AFC Cup glory with his guile and creativity going forward among the standout features of the Continental campaign.

Safiq, who also skippered his country to 2010 AFF Cup victory, spent five years with the club before departing for Melaka United ahead of the 2019 season.

Midfielder: Leandro Velazquez
Current club: JDT

Argentine Leandro Velazquez will be remembered as the man who scored the goal that won JDT the AFC Cup after his strike midway through the first half proved enough to claim the title.

The attacking midfielder left soon after the 2015 season, spending time in Colombia and Mexico, but returned to southern Malaysia in 2019 and recently helped JDT pick up a seventh successive Malaysia Super League crown.

Forward: Safee Sali
Current Club: Petaling Jaya City

Another player who tasted AFF Cup glory with his homeland, Safee Sali netted a number of crucial goals en route to the title, including a brace that helped his side overcome South China in the quarter-finals.

Safee left JDT after winning a third league title with them in 2016, first joining PKNS and later signing for Petaling Jaya City in his native Selangor.

Forward: Luciano Figueroa
Current club: retired

A club legend, the name Luciano Figueroa will forever be associated with Johor Darul Ta'zim having spent two spells as a player and later managing the team to further glory alongside Mexican Benjamin Mora.

The former Argentina international, who scored five goals in the title-winning campaign, served JDT as a player, manager and ambassador and only recently returned to his homeland for personal reasons.

Head coach: Mario Gomez
Current club: Borneo FC

Argentine tactician Mario Gomez enjoyed the most successful period of his managerial career with JDT, guiding the club to a pair of Malaysia Super League titles in addition to the AFC Cup.

Since leaving Johor, the 63-year-old has been managing in Indonesia, first with Persib Bandung and later with both Arema and Borneo, where he remains to this day.

Photos: JDT, Pahang FA, Felda United