Lafoui gave the hosts the lead after seven minutes but Neftchi hit back with Mansurjon Saidov levelling the score in the 24th minute and Alisher Halikov converting a spot kick three minutes before the break.

However, Lafoui struck again one minute before the end to help the Bahraini side to remain in first place, two points ahead of Lebanon’s Al Ahed who went down 2-1 to Al Tilal of Yemen in the other match.

Busaiteen started strongly and opened the scoring after only seven minutes when Lafoui’s powerful free-kick flew past Neftchi goalkeeper Yuriy Tsoy into the top left corner of the net.

The goal sparked Neftchi into a reaction and they were back on level terms in the 24th minute when Alisher Halikov’s shot was parried by Busaiteen goalkeeper Sayed Shubbar Alawi to Mansurjon Saidov, who was in the right place to turn the ball into the empty net.

Busaiteen were denied a second in the 38th minute when Bosnian midfielder Aleksandar Andic hit the crossbar with a powerful shot from distance.

And just three minutes before the break, Nefchi were awarded a penalty when Nayef Yusuf fouled Iqboljon Akramov inside the area and Halikov made no mistake from the spot.

Busaiteen were the dominant side in the second half and should have equalised in the 53rd minute when Nigerian striker Robert Akaruye’s header shaved the left upright.

The home side continued to exert the pressure and got their reward a minute from time when a cross from the right found Lafoui, who took the ball into the box before firing past Yuriy Tsoy.