Nasaf produced a stunning victory over league leaders Neftchi, running out 6-2 winners in the Super League's Regular Season 20 on Thursday evening. The result, which would have seemed unlikely given the standings, came after a dismal run for the hosts who had lost their previous three matches.
Nasaf struck first through S. Mukhitdinov in the sixth minute, before B. Abdikholikov doubled the lead just three minutes later. The visitors should have responded, but another Abdikholikov goal in the 53rd minute extended the advantage, and by then the game had slipped away.
M. Rakhmatov came off the bench in the 20th minute for Nasaf, while Neftchi made two changes at the hour mark — Z. Marusic and K. Giyosov both entered. A. Shala was substituted in the 69th minute, and later that night Ratinho and I. Alibaev both came on for Neftchi in the 78th minute.
Goals from A. Shala (40'), A. Odilov (58'), A. Davronov (80') and S. Perica (90') completed the rout for the hosts. Neftchi's only reply came through Odilov, but it made little difference to the outcome. The visitors were reduced to ten only in spirit, with no red cards on the day.
The statistics told their own story. Neftchi dominated possession at 63 per cent and registered 90 attacks compared to Nasaf's 72, but only managed six shots on target against the hosts' 11. Nasaf had three shots off target and 11 on target, while Neftchi could only manage five off target.
Neftchi remain top of the table with 45 points from 19 games — 14 wins, three draws and two defeats. Nasaf sit ninth with 25 points, six wins, seven draws and six losses. That defeat leaves the visitors with a 20-point gap at the summit, and the run of poor form for Nasaf finally came to an end, though not in the way anyone expected.