FERGANA, Uzbekistan (Interstat) — Al Ittihad defeated Neftchi Fargona 2-1 on Monday at Stadion Istiqlol, getting a 34th-minute goal from Houssem Aouar and a stoppage-time finish from Youssef En Nesyri. Jamshid Iskanderov scored Neftchi Fargona’s lone goal. Al Ittihad scored two goals total, and Neftchi Fargona scored one. Al Ittihad’s season record in this competition is now one win and one loss. Neftchi Fargona’s season record in this competition is now no wins and two losses. Al Ittihad’s season record across all competitions is now three wins and two losses. Neftchi Fargona’s season record across all competitions is now two wins and three losses.

Key performances in the game included Aouar, who played all 90 minutes and scored the opening goal for Al Ittihad. Iskanderov played 90 minutes and scored for Neftchi Fargona. En Nesyri scored in 27 minutes of action. Steven Bergwijn played 73 minutes and supplied an assist. Michel received a yellow card for Neftchi Fargona in the 32nd minute. Rios was booked for Al Ittihad in the 80th minute, and Sayfiev was booked for Neftchi Fargona in the 89th minute.

Michel’s yellow card came in the 32nd minute. Aouar scored two minutes later to put Al Ittihad ahead. Neftchi Fargona went into halftime trailing and made two changes at the break, bringing on Ciger and Jovovic. Al Ittihad held its advantage through the early part of the second half before making its own changes. Wijnaldum and Ilenikhena entered in the 63rd minute. Neftchi Fargona continued to rotate, with Odilov entering in the 70th minute. Al Ittihad responded by bringing on Lopy and Bergwijn in the 73rd minute. Rios was booked for Al Ittihad in the 80th minute, and Neftchi Fargona made another change with Ismoilov entering. Neftchi Fargona brought on Forss in the 86th minute. Sayfiev was booked for the hosts in the 89th minute. Al Ittihad replaced Aouar in the 90th minute plus three.

Neftchi Fargona found a response through Iskanderov, but En Nesyri’s late goal restored the Al Ittihad advantage and sealed the result. En Nesyri’s finish came in the 90th minute plus one. Al Ittihad then replaced Aouar in stoppage time as it closed out the win. Al Ittihad entered the match after a win over Al Diriyah and a win at Al Ettifaq, following losses to Shabab Al-Ahli Dubai and Al Hilal. Neftchi Fargona had recent wins at Pakhtakor and at Kokand 1912, along with losses to Lok. Tashkent and at Al Nassr. The match was played at Stadion Istiqlol in Farg’ona, also known as Fergana. Neftchi Fargona was the home team, and Al Ittihad was the visiting team.

The match remained tight through much of the second half, with both sides using substitutions to change the shape and tempo. Neftchi Fargona’s changes included Ciger and Jovovic at halftime, Odilov in the 70th minute, Ismoilov in the 80th minute and Forss in the 86th minute. Al Ittihad brought on Wijnaldum and Ilenikhena in the 63rd minute, Lopy and Bergwijn in the 73rd minute and replaced Aouar in stoppage time. The game at Stadion Istiqlol stayed within one goal until En Nesyri’s late strike. Al Ittihad finished with two goals, and Neftchi Fargona finished with one.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Neftchi Fargona 2, Al Ittihad 1. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Neftchi Fargona with a 93.1 percent probability to win. Al Ittihad had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 3 went under the over/under line of 2.75.