The latest fixture of the national championship, informally dubbed the 'Uzbek Clasico', took place in Tashkent, delivering a high-stakes encounter between traditional rivals Pakhtakor and Neftçi. The visiting team from Fergana demonstrated superior resilience, ultimately defeating the hosts with a score of 3:1.

The match began with the home side asserting pressure, leading to the opening goal in the 23rd minute when Pakhtakor forward Dostonbek Hamdamov successfully converted a penalty kick to put his team ahead.

However, the second half witnessed a tactical shift as the Fergana team mounted a successful comeback. Stipe Perica leveled the score in the 55th minute with a close-range finish, before Koffi Kouao struck shortly after to give the visitors a crucial advantage.

In the closing stages of the match, during the 89th minute, Jamshid Iskanderov sealed the victory by converting another penalty. Following this result, Neftçi extended their lead at the top of the standings to 58 points, pulling 58 points clear with a five-point gap over Pakhtakor as the season approaches its final five rounds.

Source: kun.uz