Soliev’s powerful header from a Server Djeparov corner opened the scoring in the Group D clash before he nodded in a second just after half-time. Saleh Bashar pulled a goal back with just over 20 minutes to go but Bunyodkor closed out the game with few alarms to take the points.

It was Al Ettifaq who almost took the lead after quarter of an hour, though, when they were presented with a free-kick on the edge of the box.

Bashar stepped up and his dipping right-foot effort grazed the top of the bar with Bunyodkor keeper Gochguly Gochguliyev scrambling across his goal.

But Bunyodkor went in front in the 28th minute when Djeparov’s corner from the left was flicked on to Soliev at the back post and his header was too powerful for keeper Hussain Shaian.

The hosts threatened to double their advantage as half-time approached but Victor’s 30-yard dipping drive was clawed over the bar by Shaian.

However, they did extend their advantage two minutes into the second period and it was Soliev who was once again in the right place at the right time.

Rivaldo’s long pass into the box was headed towards the far post by Edson Ramos and the onrushing Soliev climbed above Al Ettifaq skipper Sayyaf Albishi to nod in from close range.

Al Ettifaq wasted a great chance to get back into the game soon afterwards when a deflected shot fell to Abdullah Al Qahtani but he could only skew his effort well wide of the near post from close range.

Soliev spurned an equally clear-cut opportunity to complete his hat-trick just after the hour mark when Rivaldo’s cross picked out the unmarked striker on the edge of the six-yard box but he sent a free header woefully over the bar.

Al Ettifaq took advantage of the reprieve when they halved the deficit in the 65th minute as Bashar stole in between two Bunyodkor defenders to head Salah Aqqal’s inswinging cross past Gochguliyev, who had ill-advisedly rushed off his line, from six yards.

With time almost up, Djeparov and Rivaldo played a neat one two on the edge of the box before the former played in Victor but he drilled his shot just beyond the far post.