The crowd at the Suyinbaev Stadium were treated to a five-goal thriller with the action heating up after seven minutes when Istiklol midfielder Fatkhullo Fatkhulloev opened the scoring from the penalty spot. Shortly before half-time, a Ulugbek Riskulov free-kick levelled proceedings for Alay but the hosts were unable to maintain their lead heading into the break as Romish Dzalilov restored Istiklol’s advantage moments later.
