The home side left it late to secure the three points as Sardor Mirzayev opened the scoring with 18 minutes remaining before Alisher Halikov sealed the win six minutes later. AFC Cup quarter-finalists Neftchi moved to within a point of Nasaf, who are a further eight points adrift of second-placed Pakhtakor.

AGMK also remained in the hunt for third, with Pakhtakor seemingly secure in second and runaway leaders Bunyodkor on course to defend their title, after demolishing struggling Bukhara 5-0. Muidin Mamazulunov and Alexander Vostrikov each scored twice, while Doniyor Ergashev was also on target.

Elsewhere, fifth-placed Khorezm suffered a 4-2 defeat at mid-table Andijan, Ulughbek Bakaev scored twice as Samarqand-Dynamo beat Sogdiana Jizzah 3-0, while Artur Gevorkyan struck his second of the match with four minutes remaining as Shurtan edged out Locomotive Tashkent 3-2. Finally, Qyzylqum shared a goalless draw with Metallurg.