After a goalless first-half Alexander Geynrikh broke the deadlock with a 64th minute penalty, his third in as many games after finding the net in Pakhtakor’s 2-0 domestic win over Metallurg and in the 5-1 victory over Arbil, which took the Uzbek title-holders’ to second in Group D of the 2008 AFC Champions League.

Sadriddin Abdullaev made it 2-0 to Pakhtakor with eight minutes of Thursday’s clash with the 2000 Asian Cup Winners’ Cup semi-finalists remaining before Odil Ahmedov added a third two minutes into second-half stoppage-time.

The victory, Pakhtakor’s sixth of the 2008 Uzbekistan League season, moved the reigning champions up to 20 points, one behind Kuruchi who will be looking to maintain their 100% record when they take on Locomotive on Friday.

Pakhtakor now turn attention to their continental campaign and Wednesday’s top-of-the-table clash with Al Qadsia in Kuwait.