Pakhtakor took the lead after 19 minutes through captain Zaynitdin Tadjiyev before they sealed the win three minutes before the end when Odil Ahmedov converted a penalty.

The win proved fruitless for Pakhtakor as although it was their third win in the group, a place in the quarter-finals had already been claimed by Kuwait’s Al Qadsia.

Pakhtakor, who were without seven players through suspension, dominated the match right from the kick off and it looked as though they had scored the opening goal when Odil Ahmedov’s cross from the left flank was headed home by odirbek Kuziboyev but the goal was disallowed for an offside.

However, the home side took the lead ten minutes later when Sadriddin Abdullaev played a corner from the right that was headed beyond Al Gharafa goalkeeper Mohammed Al Gamdi by Pakhtakor skipper Zaynitdin Tadjiyev.

Pakhtakor continued to pressure and they should have scored another after 40 minutes when Tadjiyev’s header from a Stanislav Andreev cross went wide just four minutes before Zaynitdin Tadjiyev edged past the goalkeeper but sent the ball wide with the goal at his mercy.

Al Gharafa, who fielded an under strength side, controlled the game at the start of the second half and their best chance came one minute after the break when Saghayer Al Shammari sent a powerful shot from over the crossbar.

However, Pakhtakor soon regained control of the game and went close two minutes after the hour mark when Tadjiyev connected with a cross from Odil Ahmedov and sent a powerful header into the hands of Al Gamdi.

Pakhtakor’s best chance of the second half came two minutes later when they were rewarded a free kick at the edge of the area and Sadriddin Abdullaev’s powerful free kick slammed against the crossbar.

Pakhtakor’s dominance continue and they eventually turned their pressure into a second goal when they were awarded a spot kick in the 87th minute when Mohammed Al Haj fouled Tadjiyev inside the area and Odil Ahmedov fired home to make it 2-0.