The-AFC.com: FC Pakhtakor stroll past FC Bunyodkor, FC Lokomotiv woes continue

Any fears that FC Pakhtakor were struggling after a three-month lay-off were dramatically mitigated as the defending champions dismantled Bunyodkor 5-0 on Friday.

In a clash between big name coaches Shota Arveladze and Vadim Arbamov, Pakhtakor scored in the opening minute, then found the back of the net three more times before half-time to put last week’s surprise loss to Sogdiana firmly behind them.

Dragan Ćeran bagged a double, while Sarbor Sabirkhodjaev, Eren Derdioyk and Jaloliddin Masharipov also scored, with FC Nasaf’s scoreless draw away to Mashal on Sunday ensuring Arveladze’s side would end the weekend at the top of the table.

While Pakhtakor seem to have emphatically shaken off any rust after their long break, the same can’t be said for three-time league champions PFC Lokomotiv, who followed up last week’s 3-0 loss to Metallurg with another home defeat, this time falling 2-1 to a Sogdiana side who have now pulled off major upsets in consecutive weeks.

While the season is only five matches old, Lokomotiv’s latest stumble leaves them 10th on the standing, an unfamiliar position for a side who have finished among the top two in all of the last seven seasons.