BEKABAD, Uzbekistan (Interstat) — Gazalkent and Metallurg Bekabad traded late goals and finished in a 2-2 draw on Monday, a result that kept both sides unbeaten in the competition but left the visitors to settle for a draw after twice holding the lead. Gazalkent opened the scoring in the first half and restored its advantage with three minutes left in regulation, only for Metallurg Bekabad to answer again in the closing stages. The four-goal match unfolded with most of its decisive action packed into the final minutes, turning a controlled first half into a frantic finish. Neither team found a winner after the 89th-minute equalizer, and the match ended with the sides level at two goals apiece. The visitors held the lead twice, but the home side answered each time.

Vladislav Nabatov gave Gazalkent the lead in the 25th minute. His goal was the only scoring of the first half, and it allowed the visitors to play with a narrow advantage for much of the match. Gazalkent protected that lead into the interval and kept Metallurg Bekabad from finding an equalizer through the early part of the second half. Metallurg Bekabad pressed later in the half and was rewarded when Vladimir Bubanja scored in the 84th minute. The goal leveled the match and set up a wild closing stretch. Nabatov played the full 90 minutes and finished with one goal.

Gazalkent responded quickly after Bubanja’s equalizer, as Lazizbek Mirzayev scored in the 87th minute to put the visitors back in front. Mirzayev played the full 90 minutes and finished with one goal. The lead lasted only two minutes, however, because Marko Milickovic scored for Metallurg Bekabad in the 89th minute to force the draw. Milickovic played the full 90 minutes and finished with one goal. Bubanja also played the full 90 minutes and scored once. The late goals capped a match in which Gazalkent had the better of the early scoring chances and Metallurg Bekabad found the answers it needed at the end.

The key performers, in descending order of importance, were Nabatov, Mirzayev, Milickovic and Bubanja. Nabatov had 90 minutes and one goal for Gazalkent, Mirzayev had 90 minutes and one goal for Gazalkent, Milickovic had 90 minutes and one goal for Metallurg Bekabad and Bubanja had 90 minutes and one goal for Metallurg Bekabad. Both teams finished with two goals. Gazalkent’s season record in this competition is now 3 wins, 0 losses and 1 draw, while Metallurg Bekabad’s competition record is 2 wins, 0 losses and 2 draws. Across all competitions, Gazalkent is now 3 wins, 1 loss and 1 draw. Metallurg Bekabad is 2 wins, 0 losses and 2 draws across all competitions. The draw was the first in competition play for Gazalkent and the second for Metallurg Bekabad.

Gazalkent had entered the match with recent wins over Shortan Guzor, Jayxun and Pakhtakor II and a loss at Navbahor. Metallurg Bekabad came in after a win at FarDU, a draw with Shortan Guzor and a win at Kattaqurgon. The draw added to each team’s competition record and extended Metallurg Bekabad’s unbeaten run across all competitions. Gazalkent remained without a loss in the competition while Metallurg Bekabad stayed unbeaten in competition play and across all competitions. Both teams have now played four competition matches and remain unbeaten in that competition.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Metallurg Bekabad 2, Gazalkent 0. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Metallurg Bekabad with a 67.3 percent probability to win. Metallurg Bekabad had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 4 went under the over/under line of 3.5.