Uzbekistan international Server Djeparov drew the first blood for Kuruvchi from the spot two minutes into the second half while his national teammate Viktor Karpenko doubled the advantage in the 65th minute.

Defending champions Pakhtakor continued their chase with an identical 2-0 win over Bukhara. Alexander Geynrikh opened Pakhtakor’s account from the spot in the 26th minute and Ilhomjon Suyunov made it 2-0 five minutes before the interval.

Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side, who will take on Iran’s Saipa in the first leg of their AFC Champions League quarter-final on September 17, are on 34 points in the 16-team standings.