Sergeev's brace sinks Al Jazira

Abu Dhabi - Al Jazira suffered their third defeat in the AFC Champions League

Al Jazira suffered their third defeat in the AFC Champions League, going down to Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor at the Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi late on Tuesday night.
The 3-1 loss left the Pride of Abu Dhabi at the bottom of Group C, with just a point to show after a draw with Saudi Arabia's Al Hilal last month. Meanwhile, Pakhtakor logged seven points, just a point behind Al Hilal, who lost 2-0 to group leaders Tractorsazi Tabriz of Iran.
Uzbekistan international Igor Sergeev scored a brace, the second goal coming from a penalty after Sherzod Karimov had put the Uzbek side ahead on nine minutes. Emirati striker Ali Mabkhout pulled one back for the hosts from a penalty, just past the hour.
It didn't take long for Pakhatkor to take the lead, going ahead after nine minutes through Karimov, who fired a curling freekick past Al Jazira goalkeeper Khalid Al Senaani after Jaloliddin Masharipov was fouled.
Al Jazira had opportunities through Ahmed Al Attas and Thiago Neves but both missed the target. Al Attas flashed it wide after a neat pass from Ali Mabkhout on 25 minutes.
Pakhtakor could have had a second on the 39th minute but Masharipov fired it just over the cross bar.
Ali Mabkhout had come up with a threatening freekick after which Al Attas was brought down inside the box when he went for the rebound. The referee pointed to the spot and Ali Mabkhout made no mistake, slotting it home with ease, on 62 minutes.
But the celebrations were short lived as Pakhtakor nudged ahead two minutes later through Sergeev, who took advantage of a defensive blunder from Abdulla Mousa and Salim Rashid, before firing his left-footer home.
And with seven minutes left on the clock, Sergeev put the game to bed by scoring his team's third and his second. Sultan Al Suwaidi brought down Sergeev inside the box and the latter stepped up to slot it home from the spot.
Up next, Al Jazira are on the road to Tashkent to face Pakhtakor in the return leg on May 3.
Al Jazira 1
(Goal: Ali Mabkhout 62. Yellow cards: Saif Khalfan 43, Ali Mabkhout 53)
Pakhtakor 3
(Goals: Sherzod Karimov 9, Igor Sergeev 64, 83. Yellow cards: Djavokhir Sokhibov 20, Azimjon Akhmedov 24, Nikita Ribkin 62, Adnan Orahovac 77)
james@khaleejtimes.com