The 37-year-old is now leading the Uzbekistan League goalscorers’ chart with 10 goals following his hat-trick in Bunyodkor’s 4-0 thrashing of Metallurg on Thursday.

The 2002 FIFA World Cup winner, who played a key role in Bunyodkor securing a domestic double last season and their semi-final appearance in the 2008 AFC Champions League, gave the leaders their 12th consecutive victory.

The former FIFA World Player of the Year opened their scoring in the sixth minute while striker Anvar Soliev, who is second in the goalscorers’ list with eight goals, doubled the advantage half an hour later.

Rivaldo, who scored 34 goals for Brazil in 74 appearances, netted his second of the night on a Jasur Hasanov cross a minute before the hour mark and completed his hat-trick in the stoppage time on a pass from Ulugbek Bakaev.

The AFC Champions League quarter-finalists are now on 36 points, six more than Pakhtakor, who defeated Almalik 4-1.

Stanislav Andreev, Odil Ahmedov, Sherzodbek Karimov and Alexander Geynrikh were on target for the country’s second ACL quarter-finalists while Bakhtiyor Hamidullaev pulled one back for the losers.

In other matches, Shurtan drew with Andijan 1-1, Lokomotive lost to Bukhara 3-1, Dynamo beat Kyzylkum 3-0, Navbahor downed Mashal 2-1 and Nasaf lost to Khorezm 1-0.

STANDINGS (after round 14): 1. Bunyodkor 36 (12), 2. Pakhtakor 30 (12), 3. Almalik 26 (14), 4. Nasaf 24 (13), 5. Neftchi 22 (13).