"Neftchi" missed victory in the final minutes
In the AFC Champions League Elite competition, "Neftchi" played to a 2:2 draw with Iran's "Tractor" club, losing the victory in the final minute.
"Neftchi" let victory slip away in the final minutes
Uzbekistan's "Neftchi" played out a 2:2 draw against Iran's "Tractor" in the fourth round of the league stage of the AFC Champions League Elite 2026/2027 season. Both teams scored goals in second-half stoppage time, with the Fergana club letting victory slip away in the final minutes of the match.
The match took place in the city of Muscat. "Neftchi" took the initiative from the opening minutes and created a dangerous situation as early as the fifth minute. Following a pass from Ibrohimkhalil Yuldoshev, Aslibek Jumayev struck towards goal, but "Tractor" goalkeeper Parsa Jafari saved the shot. He also parried Marcus Forss's follow-up strike.
In the following minutes, the Uzbek team continued to create attacks. Shots by Jurani Ferreira and Alisher Odilov lacked accuracy. Meanwhile, Jafari once again denied Yan Sasse's effort from the edge of the penalty box.
After the break, the Iranian club began to play more actively in attack. A long-range shot from Amir Hosseinzadeh posed no trouble for "Neftchi" goalkeeper Botirali Ergashev.
In the 55th minute, the Uzbek team opened the scoring. Following a pass from Michel, Abrorbek Ismoilov got ahead of defender Shojae Khalilzadeh and delivered the ball into the penalty box. Stipe Perica, who had come onto the pitch shortly before, tapped the ball into the net from close range.
In the 61st minute, "Tractor" were reduced to ten men. Farshad Faraji received a straight red card for a high boot and dangerous play that struck Bojan Ciger in the face.
Despite having the numerical advantage, "Neftchi" failed to extend their lead. Perica was unable to convert one of his chances, while Jafari parried another dangerous strike from Sasse.
In the 82nd minute, "Tractor" equalized the score. Hosseinzadeh dribbled past two opponents and passed the ball to Tomislav Štrkalj, who chipped the ball over Ergashev into the net.
In stoppage time, "Neftchi" went ahead once again. In the fourth minute of added time, Vladimir Jovović scored with a long-range strike into the opponent's goal.
However, the Iranian team managed to equalize the score once more in the very final moments of the match. In the ninth minute of stoppage time, Masoud Zaerkazemayn scored "Tractor"'s second goal, establishing the final score — 2:2.