The visitors took the lead soon after kick-off through Jorge Valdivia but two goals from Ahmedov (pictured left) put the Uzbeks ahead with less than 15 minutes on the clock.

An Ilhomjon Suyunov own goal brought Al Ain level but Ahmedov struck again shortly before the half-hour mark with what proved to be the winner.

Al Ain’s disappointment was complete when Brazil-born Qatar international forward Emerson was sent off just before the final whistle.

The victory means Pakhtakor have nine points while Al Ain remain rooted to the foot of Group C on four points.

The UAE side had made the ideal start as Valdivia stunned the hosts when he opened the scoring with just three minutes on the clock following a free-kick.

But the Pakhtakor’s response was swift and they equalised six minutes later when Suyunov’s long throw evaded the defence and allowed the unmarked Ahmedov to nod home from close range.

The forward then turned the game on its head in the 12th minute when he ran onto Komoliddin Tadjiev’s smart pass and slotted home beyond goalkeeper Waleed Salim.

However, Ahmedov’s good work was undone seven minutes later when Al Ain levelled matters after the Pakhtakor defence failed to clear and Emerson picked up the ball on the left of the area before playing a low ball across the face of goal that Suyunov diverted into his own net.

The pace of the game slowed down after that but Ahmedov scored his and Pakhtakor’s third in the 28th minute. Asqar Jadigerov sent a lofted pass into the area and though Ahmedov’s initial header was palmed away by Salim, the 22-year-old collected the loose ball before firing home from a tight angle.

Pakhtakor attempted to respond early in the second half as Emerson chipped into the area but Musallam Fayez was beaten to the ball by the onrushing Eldor Tadjibaev.

The visitors were denied an equaliser though in the 76th minute when they were awarded a penalty after Bojan Miladinovic handled the ball inside the area.

Emerson stepped up and though there was power behind his spot kick, Tadjibaev guessed the right way to make the save.

Pakhatkor pressed in the final stages looking to secure the point they needed and Ismail Ahmed’s downward header bounced agonisingly over the bar.

But, desperate to grab the equaliser, Emerson used his hand to palm the ball into the net late on but the referee spotted the infringement and subsequently showed the Brazilian the red card to round off a disappointing evening for Al Ain.