Zico’s charges, who are aiming to overturn the 3-0 deficit against Australia’s Adelaide United in the second leg of AFC Champions League semi-final on October 22, are on 66 points after 24 games while the defending champions are seven points adrift.

Uzbekistan international Anvar Soliev scored the all-important goal for Bunyodkor seven minutes from time.

Bojan Kolevic gave Metallurg the lead in the 36th minute only to see Zaynitdin Tadjiyev restore the parity for Pakhtakor in the 74th minute. Alexey Sobolev netted the match-winner for Metallurg in the stoppage time.

In other games, Lokomotive lost to Dynamo 2-1, Shurtan sidelined UzDongJu 4-1, Kyzylkum beat Bukhara 1-0, Andijan beat Nasaf 3-1, Mashal defeated Neftchi 3-1 and Navbahor were held 1-1 by Sogdiana.

STANDINGS: 1. Bunyodkor 66, 2. Pakhtakor 59, 3. Neftchi 47, 4. Mashal 39, 5. Andijan 38.