The 21st round, Anvar Soliev fired three goals as Bunyodkor, who are priming nicely for the approaching AFC Champions League quarter-finals against Pohang Steelers of Korea, kept their 17-point lead over Pakhtakor.

Soliev’s goals took his individual tally to 12 for the season, two more than Villanueva yet seven shy of Rivaldo.

Pakhtakor, who play Al Ittihad of Saudi Arabia in AFC Champions League quarter-finals, beat AFC Cup quarter-finalists Neftchi 2-0. Farhod Tadjiyev and Darko Marcovic were on target for Pakhtakor who have a game in hand.

In another match, Dynamo beat Navbahor 2-0, thanks to goals from Ilhom Yunusov and Oleg Mozgovoy.

STANDINGS: 1. Bunyodkor 63, 2. Pakhtakor 46, 3. Nasaf 34, 4. Neftchi 33, 5. Almalyk 32.