Bunyodkor 0-0 Piroozi

In a game devoid of any clear cut chances, the best fell to Kamoliddin Murzoev after just seven minutes but the forward was unable to capitalise.

Bunyodkor will in all likelihood feel the more aggrieved of the two sides having also had a goal disallowed in the second-half, while Piroozi will be relatively satisfied with a point although they will need to win the return in Tehran in two weeks’ time to maintain their hopes of progressing to the last 16 from Group C.

Overall it was a poor match with neither side able to maintain any decent possession and the ball spending the majority of the game bouncing around in the middle of the pitch while a total lack of quality in the final third meant opportunities were scarce at best.

Indeed, perhaps the clearest sight of goal fell to Murzoev seven minutes into the contest when a terrible clearance by the Piroozi defence fell into the striker’s path just outside the six-yard box but he swung his left foot wildly at the ball and slashed it high and wide.

Askar Jadigerov managed to get on the end of Sakhob Juraev’s cross just before the half-hour mark and at full stretch stuck out a boot to turn the ball goalwards but Piroozi keeper Alireza Haghihi comfortably pushed it behind for a corner.

The second-half made for equally bleak viewing although Bunyodkor thought they had broken the deadlock in the 66th minute.

Anvar Rajabov’s determined run down the right saw him skip a challenge but his cross was deflected towards the Piroozi goal.

Murzoev out-jumped Haghihi and managed to flick the ball back across goal towards substitute Yannis Mandzukas, who headed into an empty net. The goal was disallowed though, presumably for offside although it was unclear as to who the actual culprit was.

Rajabov’s cross from the left then almost sneaked in at the back post shortly afterwards in what proved to be the closest either side came to scoring in the final 20 minutes.