Fozil Musaev's close-range strike secured Bunyodkor victory over Beijing Guoan at Workers' Stadium on Wednesday as the Uzbek side moved clear at the top of Group G in the AFC Champions League.
Mirdjalal Kasimov's side lead the group by two points from Pohang Steelers while Beijing are in third place a point further adrift as the battle for the two berths in the Round of 16 intensifies.
The defeat was Beijing's first in the 2013 tournament but Aleksandar Stanojevic's side will still be hopeful of advancing with games against Pohang and Sanfrecce Hiroshima remaining.
"My players played well and luckily we won," said Kasimov. "I think now we may be at the top of the group. I think this win means a lot to us. I have to say thanks to my players and those Uzbekistan fans on the stands.
"My players did a very good job and didn't give our opponents too many real opportunities to score, except when (Freddy) Kanoute had a chance with a header."
Musaev's goal came 13 minutes before the end of a first half dominated by the Uzbek league runners-up, with Oleksandr Pyshur squandering an earlier chance when his downward header was too weak to seriously threaten Yang Zhi's goal.
Freddy Kanoute had earlier fired off Beijing's first serious effort at goal in the sixth minute, the former Sevilla man barely testing Ignatiy Nesterov with his attempt from the edge of the area.
With 32 minutes gone, Bunyodkor took the lead the tenacity of their performance deserved. Oleg Zoteev burst down the left before cutting the ball in towards Lutfulla Turaev. His shot was blocked by Yang but with the rebound falling at the feet of Musaev, the midfielder could make no mistake.
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