Defending champions Pakhtakor maintained their seven-point lead over Kuruvchi after a nervy solitary goal win over lowly Tupalang in the 22nd round of the Uzbekistan League recently.

Timur Kapadze hit the only goal of the game in the 26th minute for Pakhtakor who climbed to 60 points.

Kuruvchi stayed hot on Pakhtakor’s trail after defeating Bukhara 2-0, courtesy a brace from Gochguly Gochgulyev.

Mashal beat Vobkent 4-0 to remain nine off the pace. Gabit Sapargaliev (21), Batyr Kadyrkulov (22) and Victor Klishin (32, 57) scored the goals for Mashal while Maksud Karimov (66) and Nodyr Radjabov (82) pulled two back for the losing side.

Elsewhere, Samarqand beat Andijan 1-0, Kyzylkum lost to Neftchi 4-2, Nasaf edged Navbahor 1-0, Shurtan beat Metallurg 2-1 and Lokomotiv defeated Traktor by the same scoreline.

STANDINGS: 1. Pakhtakor 60, 2. Kuruvchi 53, 3. Mashal 51, 4. Neftchi 48, 5. Samarqand 37