The friendly was also part of their preparations for the Uzbekistan League which will begin on March 1 when the defending champions will travel to Samarkand while Pakhtakor will host Bukhara.

Both the teams played each other four times in the last two Uzbekistan League seasons but all the matches ended in draws. Pakhtakor and Bunyodkor shared the last two Uzbekistan Cup titles with Pakhtakor winning on penalties in 2007 while the AFC Champions League 2008 semi-finalists clinched the crown in extra time last year.

Bunyodkor coach Amet Memet tested two of his Brazilian signings - Joao Victor and Edson Ramos.

Odil Ahmedov’s 25th minute opener for Pakhtakor was cancelled out by AFC Player of the Year Server Djeparov six minutes from the hour mark.

Bunyodkor were placed in Group D of the AFC Champions League and will begin their campaign on March 11 at home against Saudi Arabia’s Al Ettifaq. UAE’s Al Shabab and Iran’s Sepahan are the other two teams in this group.

Pakhtakor were drawn in Group A along with Al Ahli (UAE), Al Hilal (Saudi Arabia) and Saba Battery (Iran) and they will face Al Ahli away on March 10 in the opener.