Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) -- Uzbekistan maintained their pursuit of top spot in Group E of the Preliminary Joint Qualification - Round 2 for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and AFC Asian Cup Saudi Arabia 2027™ with a 3-1 win over Turkmenistan at Bunyodkor Stadium on Thursday.

Goals from Oston Urunov and Sherzod Nasrullayev earned Srecko Katanec’s side all three points after Husniddin Aliqulov’s opener had been cancelled out by Shansar Tirkisow and the win means Uzbekistan move onto 13 points and level with the Islamic Republic of Iran.

The pair face off in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Tuesday with Uzbekistan needing to win to take top spot due to their inferior goal difference over a side against which they drew 2-2 when the nations faced off in Tashkent in November.

Katanec’s side had secured a 3-1 win in the previous meeting with their Central Asian neighbours and the hosts started strongly as Rustamjon Ashurmatov hit the post with an early header.

Captain Eldor Shomurodov sent his 14th minute bicycle kick over the bar before the hosts took the lead 17 minutes into the game when Aliqulov emerged through a static defence to head Jaloliddin Masharipov’s corner past Rustem Ahallyyew from six yards out.

Eight minutes later, however, the visitors were level. Altymurad Annadurdyyew scampered down the left to send an inviting low ball across the six yard box for Tirkisow to score as he slid in at the far post.

Uzbekistan were to go ahead again four minutes later when Urunov received a well-weighted return pass from Shomudorov that put him in position to steer his right foot finish around Ahallyyew with the outside of his boot.

Urunov was narrowly denied his second and a third for Uzbekistan four minutes before the interval after Guychmyrat Annagulyyew raced back to clear the Persepolis midfielder’s goal-bound shot off the line.

Ashurmatov and Aliqulov both struck efforts from promising positions well off target in the opening 15 minutes of the second half with the hosts pushing for a third, with Urunov slamming a later shot straight into Ahallyyew’s chest from close range.

With 20 minutes remaining Uzbekistan finally increased their advantage when Abbosbek Fayzullaev released Aliqulov down the right flank and his pinpoint centre across the face of goal left Nasrullayev with the simplest finish from inside the six-yard box.