Unbeaten Bunyodkor celebrated the Uzbekistan League title yesterday as Brazilian Rivaldo struck an 88th-minute penalty to clinch a 2-1 win over Locomotive Tashkent at JAR Arena.
Luiz Felipe Scolari's side had already wrapped up the title after Metallurg Bekabad held Pakhtakor to a 1-1 draw on Tuesday.
Bunyodkor had not played at home for a month and their championship party was halted after seven minutes as Rustam Agzamov capped off a swift Locomotive counter-attack to open the scoring.
Joao Victor and Jasur Hasanov both had chances for Bunyodkor before Server Djeparov was denied by Locomotive goalkeeper Aleksandr Filimonov, who also saved from Djeparov and Anvar Soliev before half-time.
Scolari introduced Rivaldo and Chilean striker Jose Luis Villanueva in the second half and Bunyodkor were finally rewarded for their dominance two minutes after the hour mark as Brazilian full-back Edson Ramos crossed for Soliev to convert.
Filimonov continued to deny Bunyodkor but with two minutes remaining Villanueva was upended inside the area and Rivaldo stepped up the seal the win and kickstart the celebrations.
Elsewhere, Erkin Boydullaev and Bahodyr Nasimov scored in the second half as Samarqand-Dynamo beat AGMK 2-0.
Finally, Andijan were held to a 1-1 draw at Navbakhor Namangan, while Sogdiana Jizzah shared a goalless draw with Shurtan Guzar.
Bunyodkor had not played at home for a month and their championship party was halted after seven minutes as Rustam Agzamov capped off a swift Locomotive counter-attack to open the scoring.
Joao Victor and Jasur Hasanov both had chances for Bunyodkor before Server Djeparov was denied by Locomotive goalkeeper Aleksandr Filimonov, who also saved from Djeparov and Anvar Soliev before half-time.
Scolari introduced Rivaldo and Chilean striker Jose Luis Villanueva in the second half and Bunyodkor were finally rewarded for their dominance two minutes after the hour mark as Brazilian full-back Edson Ramos crossed for Soliev to convert.
Filimonov continued to deny Bunyodkor but with two minutes remaining Villanueva was upended inside the area and Rivaldo stepped up the seal the win and kickstart the celebrations.
Elsewhere, Erkin Boydullaev and Bahodyr Nasimov scored in the second half as Samarqand-Dynamo beat AGMK 2-0.
Finally, Andijan were held to a 1-1 draw at Navbakhor Namangan, while Sogdiana Jizzah shared a goalless draw with Shurtan Guzar.
Copyright (c) Press Association
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