PFC Bunyodkor, formerly known as Kuruvchi, sit atop the Uzbekistan League on 48 points after 18 matches. They have established a five-point advantage over second-placed Pakhtakor.

Ulugbek Bakaev fired Bunyodkor into the lead on 31 minutes. Chilean midfielder Jose Luis Villanueva put the AFC Champions League quarter-finalists further ahead when scored in the 41st minute.

Umid Tadjimov pulled a goal back for Metallurg two minutes after the restart.

In the other match played, Pakhtakor hammered Sogdiana 6-1. Ildar Magdeev gave Pakhtakor the lead in the 13th minute. Zaynitdin Tadjiyev doubled their advantage on 22 minutes.

Brazilian striker Fabio Pinto scored the third goal in the 30th minute. And Tadijiyev put Pakhtakor into a four-nil lead three minutes later.

Tadijiyev completed his hat-trick in the second half, after he netted his third on 72 minutes. Magdeev clinched his brace in the 76th minute.

Shahboz Erkinov netted a consolation goal for Sogdiana in the 58th minute.

In other matches, Lokomotiv beat Kyzylkum 2-1, while Mashal crushed Navabhor 5-0.

Dynamo defeated AGMK 1-0, UzDongJu lost to Bukhara 4-0, Neftchi downed Nasaf 1-0 and Shurtan lost to Andijan 1-0.