Pakhtakor, the only team to have competed in every edition of the tournament since 2003, absorbed plenty of pressure from Al Ain and took full advantage of the chance that came their way following a counter-attack to grab three points with a 1-0 win.

In a robust encounter in which the physical play of the Uzbeks broke up the home team’s intricate play, even a decent crowd of about seven thousand could not lift the inaugural ACL champions.

Pakhtakor should have taken the lead in the second minute when Asqar Jadigerov foraged down the left flank, beat a defender and then crossed into the box.

But an unmarked Odil Ahmedov saw his powerful header fly straight to Waleed Salim and the Al Ain goalkeeper pushed it away for a corner kick.

Though Pakhtakor set the early pace, their attacks soon fizzled out and Jorge Valdivia led Al Ain’s counter when he burst into the box and found an advancing Ali Al Waheebi on the right but the latter’s shot was blocked by a defender.

Argentine striker Jose Sand and Al Waheebi kept the pressure on and Al Ain’s best chance in the first-half came at the midway point when Valdivia found Sand inside the box from the left and the latter moved the ball to Al Waheebi, who was better placed.

However, his shot was saved by Temur Juraev.

Al Ain saw more of the ball, though a series of fouls ensured the game never flowed as the home team continued to press after the break.

Though their Brazilian striker Marcio Emerson was missed, Al Ain continued to surge forward but Pakhtakor’s Aleksandor Kletskov and Bojan Miladinovic proved rock solid in defence with some crucial tackling.

The Uzbek side then took the lead against the run of play when a counter attack found Janjus Milored who closed in on goal as Hilal Saeed attempted a challenge inside the box.

Even as the Al Ain defender was claiming a foul, Milored squared to Gevorkyan whose left-footed finish evaded the diving Salim and ended up in the net.

Salim did well to keep out a subsequent shot from Milored before Al Ain laid siege to the Pakhtakor goal in the final minutes.

Valdivia’s free-kick was brilliantly saved by Juraev before the Chilean star’s forward progress was baulked by Kletskov resulting in a free-kick inside the box, though Al Ain players sought a penalty.

However Sand’s effort rebounded off the wall and Pakhtakor’s resolute defence could not be breached.