Kapadze scored the decisive goal on the half-hour mark to lift the Uzbekistani team three points clear at the top of Group A, although they have played a game more than nearest rivals Al Ittihad Jeddah.

Visiting goalkeeper Mahmoud Karkar had kept his side in the game with a number of fine saves, but their hopes of reaching the knockout stage looks to have disappeared as they remain on three points from four games.

Al Ittihad were first to threaten when Venezuelan striker Jesus Gomez shot over the crossbar after 23 minutes.

But seven minutes later they were behind following Kapadze's close-range strike.

A cross from Server Djeparov found Bakhtiyor Ashurmatov who headed the ball to Kapadze to tap home.

The visitors were gifted a chance to equalise minutes before the break when a slip from Kuruvchi defender Gochguly Gochguliyev handed possession to Yahia Al Rached, however he pulled his shot wide with only the goalkeeper to beat.

Karkar was called into action in the 53rd minute when he expertly tipped away Gochguly Gochguliyev's powerful header.

The hosts went in search of a second goal that would ease the pressure in the closing stages, but were thwarted by the frame of the goal when midfielder Shavkat Salomov shot from long range.

Karkar then turned Victor Karpenko's shot from inside the area away for a corner before he again came to his side's rescue blocking Anvarjon Soliev before reacting quickly tip away Salomov's effort.