Neftchi beat Pakhtakor 3-1 in Tashkent to move five points clear with five rounds remaining. AGMK climbed into fourth, Nasaf closed the gap on the top four, and Bunyodkor took an important step towards safety. We review Matchday 25 and compare the results with our preview on 888STARZ.
Pakhtakor 1-3 Neftchi
The hosts took the lead in the 23rd minute through a Dostonbek Hamdamov penalty, but Neftchi turned the game around after half-time. Stipe Perica equalised in the 55th minute, Koffi Kouao put the visitors ahead in the 66th, and Jamshid Iskanderov sealed the victory with another penalty in the 89th. Pakhtakor also finished with ten men following Dilshod Abdullayev’s dismissal.
Our preview highlighted Neftchi’s league-leading attack, which had scored 56 goals in 24 rounds, and Pakhtakor’s impressive consistency, with just one defeat all season. This time, it was the Fergana side who came out on top in their biggest game of the campaign.
Neftchi now have 58 points, five ahead of Pakhtakor on 53. More importantly, the visitors have given themselves some breathing room in the title race. They no longer need to win every remaining match to stay ahead.
Nasaf 2-1 Sogdiana
Nasaf built a two-goal lead before half-time. Bobur Abdukholikov converted a penalty in the sixth minute, and Paata Gudushauri doubled the advantage in the 36th. Sogdiana pulled one back through Sardor Jamolov in the 85th minute.
Before the round, we highlighted Nasaf’s defensive record and Sogdiana’s attacking threat. Both trends were partly evident: the hosts conceded but held on, while their attack responded well after the goalless draw against Lokomotiv.
Nasaf have moved to 41 points, putting them firmly back in contention for fourth place. They are now just one point behind AGMK.
AGMK 2-1 Kokand-1912
AGMK almost let victory slip despite playing the entire second half with an extra man. Mirjamol Qosimov opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, and Kokand’s Zafar Hakimov was sent off for a second yellow card just before the break.
Yet Shohrukh Gadoyev equalised for the visitors in the 86th minute. AGMK needed a stoppage-time winner from Siyavash Haghnazari to secure all three points.
Our preview focused on AGMK’s pursuit of the top four and Kokand’s battle to escape the relegation places. The result lifts the hosts to fourth with 42 points. Kokand remain on 23 and face growing pressure after Bunyodkor’s victory.
Bukhara 0-0 Surkhon
After two consecutive wins, Bukhara dropped points for the first time in three rounds. The hosts were reduced to ten men when Kirill Todorov was sent off in the 61st minute.
Surkhon extended their impressive defensive run to four consecutive clean sheets. Scoring remains the problem, however: the Termez side have managed just 19 goals in 25 matches.
Bukhara now have 41 points, having slipped behind AGMK. They remain in a tight battle with Nasaf and Lokomotiv for the places immediately below the top three.
Bunyodkor 2-1 Mash’al
Bunyodkor fell behind in the seventh minute when Zafar Akramov scored for Mash’al. But the Tashkent side turned the match around before the 34th minute through goals from Islom Anvarov and Shamsiddin Tursunmahamadov.
It was one of Bunyodkor’s most important wins of the second half of the season. Their 26 points give them a three-point cushion over Kokand and Khorezm, who both have 23.
We had identified Bunyodkor’s fight for survival as a key storyline in our preview. They have now taken a significant step towards staying in the Super League, although five rounds remain.
Other Matchday 25 Results
Qizilqum and Lokomotiv drew 1-1. Shahzod Rahmatullayev gave the hosts an early lead in the third minute, but Bilol Tupliyev equalised before half-time.
Dinamo Samarkand and Andijan also finished 1-1. Both clubs now have 31 points and remain in mid-table.
The seven completed fixtures produced 17 goals. The final match, Khorezm vs Navbahor on 26 October, had not finished when this article was prepared.
Uzbekistan Super League Standings After the Completed Fixtures
Neftchi lead with 58 points, followed by Pakhtakor on 53. Navbahor remain third with 46 points and a game in hand.
The race for fourth is tight: AGMK have 42 points, Nasaf and Bukhara have 41 each, and Lokomotiv have 40. Further down, Bunyodkor have 26 points, Kokand and Khorezm have 23 each, while Mash’al have four.
How the Results Compared with Our Preview
The biggest storyline we identified before the round — Pakhtakor and Neftchi’s title battle — delivered a decisive result. Neftchi backed up their attacking numbers with three goals against their closest rivals, extending their lead from two points to five.
Nasaf capitalised on Sogdiana’s defensive weaknesses, AGMK secured the points they needed, and Bukhara were held by a Surkhon side who kept yet another clean sheet.
Verified 888STARZ odds were not available in our original preview for this round. We therefore won’t use prices from other bookmakers. Our comparison focuses on the pre-match trends and the results on the pitch.
What Changed After Matchday 25
Neftchi’s five-point advantage now defines the title race. Pakhtakor have little room for further slip-ups, while the Fergana side have a useful cushion heading into the final five rounds.
AGMK have climbed into fourth, but Nasaf, Bukhara and Lokomotiv remain close behind. At the bottom, Bunyodkor have moved three points clear of their nearest rivals in the relegation battle.
The round concludes with Khorezm against Navbahor. That result could affect both the race for third place and the fight to avoid relegation.
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