The hosts got off to the perfect start at Bunyodkor Stadium when Shomurodov opened the scoring inside two minutes before the striker added a second for Sergey Lushchan’s side on 35 minutes.

Al Shabab came back into the game in the second half, but failed to breach the Bunyodkor backline as the home side advanced to Group B alongside Saudi Arabia’s Al Nassr, Iran’s Zobahan and Qatar’s Lekhwiya. v “We wanted to play like this and we did. We made some mistakes, but we will work hard to try and correct them,” said Bunyodkor coach Lushchan.

“We tried to learn about our opponents’ playing style and we noted that after 60 minutes they would become tired so we changed our forwards in the second half. Al Shabab have some fantastic foreigners, but we tried to not give them chances to score. Our players kept to my game plan.

“We have played with young players for one and a half years; they know what I want, and I know my players well. The defenders are young, but they didn’t give our opponents a chance.

“We will try to improve our performance from last year and not repeat the mistakes we made. We will try to get to the final and win the Champions League.”

With a place in Group B at stake, Bunyodkor went in front after just two minutes when Shomurodov side-footed into the back of the net from 10 yards after good build-up play from midfielders Chaker Zouaghi and Dostonbek Khamdamov.

The two-time semi-finalists then doubled their advantage 10 minutes before the interval when a wonderful low cross by Akramjon Komilov from the left found Shomurodov at the back post for a simple finish.

Al Shabab rarely threatened the Bunyodkor backline in the first half, with Mahmood Qassim’s speculative attempt from 25 yards on 40 minutes flying over to end a disappointing first half for the visitors.

Caio Junior’s side had more possession after the restart, but Shomurodov almost grabbed his hat-trick on the hour mark when the striker fizzed just wide from 20 yards.

But Al Shabab then should have pulled one back two minutes later when forward Henrique Lavanndor’s weak effort from inside the penalty area was blocked by the feet of goalkeeper Murotjon Zukhurov before strike partner Juninho Potiguar fired the ensuing rebound over from close to the penalty spot.

Bunyodkor could have put the game beyond doubt with five minutes remaining, but substitute Shakhzodbek Nurmatov was foiled by the outrushing Salem Abdulla as he tried to dink the ball over the Al Shabab custodian.

“They have a good team. When we conceded the first goal it made it very difficult. This situation was very important for Bunyodkor,” ” said Al Shabab coach Caio Junior.

“I think we played a good game, especially in the second half when we had one big chance to make it 2-1. I think this moment was the most important moment of the game.

“We tried with two new players in the second half, but it wasn’t easy. The game was balanced physically. We had more ball possession during the game, especially in the second half.”