Pakhtakor's hopes of pipping Nasaf to runners-up spot behind Oliy Liga champions Bunyodkor for a third successive campaign suffered another blow today as they were defeated 4-1 at Neftchi.

The last three seasons in the Oliy Liga have seen a one-two-three of Bunyodkor, Pakhtakor and Nasaf, but it is the latter team who hold the upper hand against Pakhtakor heading into the final stretch of this campaign following today's results.

Pakhtakor found themselves trailing 2-0 after just 12 minutes at Neftchi following goals from Anvar Berdyev and Alisher Halikov, and although they pulled a goal back through Stanislav Andreev's 28th-minute penalty, the home side sealed a convincing win with another goal each from Berdyev and Halikov either side of half-time.

The defeat, which is Pakhtakor's second on the trot, leaves them two points behind second-placed Nasaf with three games remaining. The good news for Pakhtakor is that they still have to face Nasaf, who are also struggling in form.

Having been held 1-1 in their last match, Nasaf dropped more points today after playing out a goalless draw with Almalyk.

In today's other fixtures, third-bottom Qyzylqum and last-placed Sogdiana shared the spoils in a 0-0 draw, while Shurtan defeated Navbakhor 1-0 with a 47th-minute goal from Igor Taran.