First league loss for Mash'al

AFC Champions League May 9 Mash'al's unbeaten run in the Uzbek Oliy Liga came to an end in Round 8 after a second half Ilya Kovalenko goal gave Neftchi a 1-0 win and consigned Viktor Djalilov's side to their first league defeat since August 2005. Masha'l, who drew their season-opener against Qizilqum before embarking on a six-game winning streak, looked jaded after struggling to a 2-2 draw against AFC Champions League Group B rivals Al Mina'a last Wednesday but kept the home side at bay until the 70th minute when Kovalenko netted his fourth of the season. Despite the defeat to the 2005 AFC Champions League qualifiers the Mubarak outfit remains in second place with 19 points from 8 games but with a 2-0 away win over Soghdiana in Jizzakh, Nasaf, the last side to beat Mash'al in league action, has joined them level on points. In other games, visiting Bukhoro defeated Traktor 3-1 in Tashkent, while 6000 fans in Sarasya witnessed Topalang climb to fifth place thanks to a 4-0 win over struggling Khorazm. Shortan defeated neighbouring Samarqand 1-0, while Qizilqum and Metallurgh both came from a goal down to draw 1-1 with Lokomotiv and Navbakhor respectfully. 2006 Uzbekistan league - Round 8 results: Traktor 1 Bukhoro 3 Topalang 4 Khorazm 0 Lokomotiv 1 Qizilqum 1 Soghdiana 0 Nasaf 2 Shortan 1 Samarqand 0 Neftchi 1 Mash'al 0 Metallurgh 1 Navbakhor 1