Olmaliq Edge Past Bunyodkor in Regular Season Clash
Olmaliq secured a 3-2 victory over Bunyodkor in the Superleague's regular season, rounding off a turbulent afternoon in Tashkent. The result means the visitors move further clear of their hosts in the standings, while the home side's winless run continues. To be fair, this wasn't a match decided by dominance so much as by who took their chances when they mattered. The scoreline tells one story, but the flow of the game suggested something more unpredictable.
Bunyodkor struck first through Dmitri Pletnev in the 26th minute, a moment that briefly lifted the home crowd. Olmaliq responded quickly, with Saeed Haghnazari converting a penalty in the 33rd minute to level matters. Nodirbek Abdurazzakov restored Bunyodkor's lead four minutes later, and just three minutes after that, Artyom Kholmurodov doubled the home side's advantage. And here's the thing — Olmaliq didn't fold. Nodirbek Abdusalomov pulled one back early in the second half, setting up a tense finish.
Substitutions began immediately after the interval, with Bunyodkor bringing on S. Abdunabiev and A. Ulmasaliev in the 46th minute. The hosts looked to see the game out, but Olmaliq's persistence paid off. A. Kholmurodov picked up a yellow card in the 54th minute, a reminder of the tension building. More changes followed: S. Nematjonov came on at 66 minutes, Kholmurodov was replaced at 72, and the final pair of substitutions arrived at 83 minutes.
The result leaves Bunyodkor 15th in the table with 21 points from 21 games, while Olmaliq sit fifth with 32 points. The hosts have now lost 14 of their 21 matches this season, a run that shows little sign of easing. Their recent form has been unkind — five defeats in their last five league games, including heavy losses to Kyzyllkum and Pakhtakor. Olmaliq's own recent results have been mixed, but this away win gives them momentum heading into the next round.
What this means for the season is clear enough. Olmaliq's position in the top half looks more secure, while Bunyodkor's struggles continue to mount pressure on their campaign. The match itself was decided by moments rather than sustained pressure, with five goals in the first half setting the tone. The visitors held their nerve when it counted, and that distinction will matter more than possession or shots in a league where margins are thin.