Kapadze scored the only goal of the game 15 minutes before the break, while Al Ittihad goalkeeper Mahmoud Karkar kept his side in the contest with a string of crucial saves.

The win sees Kuruvchi remain in contention for a place in the knockout stage after picking up a third win in four games, while Al Ittihad’s continental campaign is virtually over.

After a slow start, Al Ittihad had the first chance after 23 minutes when Venezuelan striker Jesus Gomez fired a first time volley from inside the area over the crossbar.

But, the home side opened the scoring on the hour mark when Server Djeparov sent a cross from the right to Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov, who headed the ball back to Kapadze and the 27-year-old midfielder made no mistake from a close range.

Kuruvchi should have doubled the advantage six minutes before the break bu Djeparov fired wide before Aleksey Nikolaev fired straight at Karkar a minute later.

The best chance for Al Ittihad came two minutes before the break after a slip by Kuruvchi defender Gochguly Gochguliyev gave the ball to Yahia Al Rached, but despite having only the goalkeeper to beat, he pulled his shot wide of the right upright.

Seven minutes before the hour mark Karkar turned away Gochguly Gochguliyev’s powerful header from Djeparov’s left wing free-kick.

Al Ittihad, who were without defender Majd Homsi and Salah Chahrour through suspension, had a chance to draw level against the run of play five minutes after the hour mark after good work Mahmoud Al Amena, but after beating two defender, pulled his effort wide.

Second half midfielder Shavkat Salomov struck the crossbar with a speculative long range effort for the home side with 12 minutes remaining before Karkar turned Victor Karpenko’s shot from inside the area away for a corner.

In the closing stages, Karkar again came to his side’s rescue as he denied Anvarjon Soliev before reacting quickly tip Shavkat Salomov’s away from danger.