FC Pakhtakor earn a place in group stage securing a 2-1 win over Al Nasr

In a game that saw three penalties awarded for handballs, it was the Uzbeks who emerged victorious at Al Maktoum Stadium in Dubai.

The Uzbek side thought their profligacy would be punished when Al Nasr were given a golden opportunity in the 14th minute as Odiljon Khamrobekov handled the ball inside his penalty box. Al Nasr Skipper Alvaro Negredo stepped up but sent his shot from 12 yards out wide to Khamrobekov’s relief.

Ceran succeeded where Negredo failed. The Serbian striker kept his composure to slot home Pakhtakor’s opener from the spot at the half-hour mark after Al Nasr full-back Ahmed Al Yassi was penalised for a hand ball inside the box.

Bikmaev doubled Pakhtakor’s lead five minutes into the second half. Dostonbek Khamdamov’s in-swinging cross from the right flank needed just the faintest of touches by the striker to beat Al Nasr goalkeeper, and so it did.

There was a third hand ball in the game, this time the culprit was Pakhtakor’s Sadriddin Abdullaev who rescued Negredo’s strike with his hands and was booked as a result.

This time Negredo was on target, his shot into the bottom corner bringing the Dubai side one goal closer to equalising.