After a scoreless first half, the hosts opened the scoring two minutes after the interval through Ilhomjon Suyunov and substitute Alexander Geynrikh added a second from the penalty spot three minutes later to seal the three points.

The victory sent the Uzbek double winners above Arbil into second place in the group with four points from three games.

Pakhtakor went into the game without defender Komoliddin Tadjiev who was sent off in their 2-2 draw against Al Gharafa three weeks ago while Arbil fielded Luay Salah after the Iraq international striker missed their first two matches due to registration problems.

The visitors were the better side in the first 20 minutes and went close after 13 minutes when Luay Salah broke into the Pakhtakor box before unleashing a powerful close-range shot that Pakhtakor goalkeeper Ignatiy Nesterov did well to stop.

Pakhtakor gradually got into the game but Arbil should still have opened the scoring in the 35th minute when Alaa Nairuz passed to Mouslim Mobarak, whose attempt from inside the area was denied by Nesterov.

Arbil had another chance two minutes before the break when Samal Saeed launched a long-range effort which was well saved by Nesterov.

Pakhtakor finished the half as the stronger side though with Darko Markovic sending a powerful shot just past the right post and Zaynitdin Tadjiyev heading wide.

The home side began the second half strongly and opened the scoring two minutes after the break when a free kick from the left side found Akmal Holmatov who laid the ball on for Suyunov to fire a screamer past Arbil goalkeeper Sarhank Mohsin.

Pakhtakor nearly doubled their advantage a minute later when Odil Ahmedov neatly back-heeled the ball to Holmatov, whose shot from outside the box was turned out by Sarhank for corner.

However, the Iraqi goalkeeper then brought down Tadjiyev inside the area and substitute Geynrikh made no mistake from the spot, putting Pakthakor two goals up in the 50th minute.

The hosts turned up the pressure and nearly scored a third in the 65th minute when Islom Inomov made his way down the left before firing a shot over the crossbar.

Geynrikh was then denied a minute later by Arbil’s reserve goalkeeper Dydar Hamed, who had replaced Sarhank in the 55th minute.

The home side took their foot off the gas in the remaining minutes but could still have scored a third goal five minutes before the end when Markovic shot wide from inside the area.