Mirdjalal Kasimov’s side are now on 48 points, eight more than Pakhtakor.

Victor Karpenko and Timur Kapadze were on target for Bunyodkor while Zahid Abdullaev, Ruslan Vagapov and Dilmurod Karimov scored for Metallurg. Alisher Azizov scored Pakhtakor’s only goal.

In other matches, Neftchi beat Dynamo 3-2, Andijan sidelined Kyzylkum 2-1, Nasaf thrashed Almalyk 4-0, Lokomotive lost to Mashal 2-0 and Shurtan downed Khorezm 4-1.