Lochin came from behind to beat Pahtakor II 3-2 in the Pro-League A on Friday, a result that keeps their top-half ambitions alive while adding to the hosts' growing list of disappointments. The visitors had won their last outing 2-1 against Kyzyryk, but this was a different kind of challenge. Pahtakor II had lost five straight before this match, their most recent being a 0-3 hammering by Respublika Fa. And here's the thing — you could feel the pressure building on the home side from the opening whistle.
Pahtakor II took the lead twice in quick succession, both goals coming in the 39th and 40th minutes. A. Narziyev put them ahead, and his team-mate added a second almost immediately. Lochin had no response until the 70th minute, when they pulled one back. The visitors then struck twice more, S. Bekmurodov and E. Erkinov finding the net in the 71st and 76th minutes respectively.
Lochin had won nine of their eighteen league games this season, compared to just three for Pahtakor II. The gap in the table told the story — 32 points to 10. But the recent form suggested something different, with the hosts looking particularly vulnerable. They had conceded 15 goals in their last five matches, a pattern that seemed to be catching up with them. To be fair, Lochin weren't at their best either, drawing 0-0 with Yaypan and losing 0-5 to Metallurg in the same period.
The match turned on those three goals in quick succession, a burst of energy from the visitors that Pahtakor II couldn't match. A. Tursunpulatov received a red card in the 90th minute, but by then the result was already decided. The home side had thrown everything at Lochin, but the visitors held firm when it mattered most. By then, the mood on the pitch had shifted entirely.
Lochin moved up to fifth place with 32 points, while Pahtakor II remained in 13th with 10. The hosts have now lost 14 of their 18 league games, a record that shows how far they have to go this season. Lochin's five defeats suggest they're not invincible, but they're certainly more consistent than their opponents.
What stands out is the contrast in form. Pahtakor II had lost five consecutive league matches before this game, including heavy defeats to Fardu and Kattekurgan. Lochin showed more resilience, bouncing back from their 0-5 loss to Metallurg with back-to-back results that included a victory and a draw. The gap between them remains significant, but the margin isn't as wide as the table suggests.