Ollmaliq edged past Khorezm 2-1 in the Round of 16 of the cup at a tense evening fixture. The hosts advanced to the quarter-finals after a match that swung between promise and frustration. Khorezm had looked comfortable for large stretches, but two late goals from S. Haghnazari turned the tie on its head.
The breakthrough came in the 60th minute when Haghnazari converted a penalty to give Ollmaliq the lead. The visitors had been pushing for an equaliser and the spot-kick felt like a reprieve for the hosts. And here's the thing — the goal didn't settle anyone. Khorezm pushed forward immediately, searching for a response.
Drama followed quickly. A goal was disallowed for offside in the 62nd minute, confirmed by VAR. The rejection left a sour taste and the momentum shifted back and forth without either side gaining control. By then, the match had taken on the character of a cup tie where one moment decides everything.
Khorezm finally broke through in the 86th minute when U. Sultonov found the net. The equaliser brought a wave of relief for the visitors, who had weathered a storm of pressure for most of the second half. Ollmaliq had to dig deep, knowing one more goal would be required to stay in the competition.
Haghnazari delivered again in the 100th minute, slotting home his second of the night to restore Ollmaliq's advantage. The goal came after a period of sustained pressure, and the striker saw it out with characteristic composure. He was substituted shortly after, perhaps a sign that the manager wanted fresh legs for the final push.
Both sides were booked multiple times as the match wore on, with six yellow cards shown in total. The tension was palpable, particularly after the cancelled goal, but no further incidents marred the conclusion. Ollmaliq's victory extends their cup campaign while Khorezm's season comes to an end.
