2021 ACL: Tractor 3 – 3 Pakhtakor

After a shy start to the game from both sides, it was Pakhtakor who took the initiative at the quarter-hour mark as Dragan Ceran advanced down the middle and supplied a fine through pass for Erin Derdiok who fired low from inside the box, but Tractor goalkeeper Mohammadreza Akhbari produced a quick save with his feet at the near post.

The Uzbek side thought they had broken the deadlock with 10 minutes to go when Azizbek Turgunboev whipped a ball into the box from a set-piece and Ceran’s towering header looked destined for the back of the net before Akhbari showed superb athleticism to make a diving save, tipping it behind for a corner.

Tractor came racing out of the blocks after the restart and within seven minutes, it was awarded a penalty after defender Anzur Ismailov handled the ball inside the box.

Veteran Ashkan Dejagah stepped up in the 53rd minute and sent goalkeeper Sanjar Kuvvatov the wrong way, slotting home the equaliser.

Mohammad Abbaszadeh made it 2-0 in the 56th minutes.

Dragan Ceran pulled a goal back in the 69th minute.

Pakhtakor equalized with 15 minutes left on the clock after Sharof Mukhitdinov received Sayfiev’s pass from the right, twisted and turned before unleashing a thunderous left-footed strike that nestled into the Tractor net.

The Uzbeks were not done yet. Substitute Erkinov pounced on a poor defensive clearance and embarked on a solo run beating three defenders before placing the ball past the opposition goalkeeper to make it 3-2.

Just as Pakhtakor thought it had completed its mission, Abbaszadeh broke through on goal, leaving defender Egor Krimets with no option but to bring him down inside the box. Abbaszadeh stepped up to take the resulting penalty and made no mistakes, powering in to make it 3-3 with five minutes to go.

Pakhtakor face Iraq’s Air Force Club on Saturday while Tractor play the home side Sharjah FC in their next game.