Pakhtakor drop first points

AFC Champions League May 9 Pakhtakor's 100 per cent record in their 2006 league campaign ended in Round 8 when they were held to a 2-2 draw by promoted Andijon as the two-time AFC Champions League semi-finalists dropped their first points and conceded their first goals of the season. Ironically, it was former Pakhtakor player Umid Isoqov that ended the 'Cotton Pickers' impressive run of having not conceded a goal in over 630 minutes of Oliy Liga action, when the striker converted a penalty past substitute keeper Temur Juraev, who was deputising for the injured Ignatiy Nesterov. Within three minutes, the tie was level thanks to an Anzur Ismailov strike struck low into the corner but Andijon regained their advantage in the 38th with Isoqov breaching the Pakhtakor defence for a second time. But eight minutes after the restart Pakhtakor again hauled themselves back into the game, with midfielder Omid Ahmedov earning a share of the spoils from the penalty spot. The draw with Andijon, who also won 3-1 and drew 1-1 with Valeri Nepomniatchi's side in two pre-season friendlies, didn't affect Pakhtakor's place at the top of the table with the point taking their tall to 22 from eight games to lead Mash'al, whose unbeaten streak also ended in Round 8, and Nasaf.