Sogdiana claimed a 3-1 away victory over Mashal at the Super League venue on Sunday, securing three crucial points despite a spirited home performance. The result moves the visitors closer to mid-table safety while extending Mashal's difficult run in the championship.
L. Doriev gave the home side an early lead when he finished in the fifth minute, catching the defence off guard. Mashal were not content with a single-goal advantage, and Doriev doubled his tally from the penalty spot after the interval. The home side then went ahead 2-1 when Doriev struck again in the 60th minute, putting the crowd on their feet.
Sogdiana refused to surrender and pulled a goal back through a late effort in stoppage time. The visitors had created more clear-cut chances throughout the match, and their persistence finally paid off. Doriev's hat-trick for Mashal was a remarkable individual contribution, but it could not prevent his side from losing ground in the table.
The statistics tell a different story from the scoreline. Sogdiana registered 11 shots on target compared to Mashal's solitary effort, while both sides recorded similar numbers of attacks. Mashal held 53 per cent possession but could not convert their dominance into a comfortable victory.
Three substitutions were made by each manager during the second half, with both coaches attempting to change the momentum. Mashal saw F. Ibrokhimov, S. Fayziev and P. Micin brought on in quick succession as they chased the game.
The result leaves Mashal rooted to 16th place with just four points from 21 matches. Sogdiana climb to 10th on 28 points, three places above the drop zone. Both sides have five games remaining in the season.