Defending champions Pakhtakor were held to a goalless draw by Kuruvchi in a battle of the top-two teams in the 21st round of the Uzbekistan League recently.

The one point split saw Pakhtakor increasing their points kitty to 57 while Kuruvchi are seven points behind.

Mashal took advantage of the stalemate and closed the gap with a 4-1 mauling of Lokomotiv. Hayrulla Kadyrov (4 penalty), Rustam Kadyrov (40), Samandar Shodmonov (45+1) and Victor Klishin (81) were on target for Mashal.

Neftchi lost to Samarqand 2-1 but remained fourth. Sanjar Akramov (54) and Farhod Tadjiyev (72) were the goalscorers for Samarqand while Alisher Halikov pulled one back for the losing side in the 74th minute.

In other matches, Kyzylkum edged Vobkent 1-0, thanks to Bahodyr Pardaev’s injury time strike, Tupalang downed Shurtan 2-0, Bukhara beat Nasaf by a solitary goal and Navbahor thrashed Andijan 3-0.

STANDINGS: 1. Pakhtakor 57, 2. Kuruvchi 50, 3. Mashal 48, 4. Neftchi 45, 5. Kyzylkum 36