Pakhtakor coach Viktor Djalilov was a contented man after seeing his side claim an easy 2-0 win over Al Ahli of the United Arab Emirates in their Champions League clash at Pakhtakor Stadium on Wednesday.

The Uzbek side maintained their position at the top of Group A thanks to a Zaynitdin Tadjiyev header in the 38th minute and a strike by substitute Alexander Geynrikh 12 minutes into the second half.

“I’m happy with the win and I think that everyone who was at the stadium tonight enjoyed the game,” said Djalilov after Pakhtakor’s fourth win in five games in the competition.

“We have been playing attacking football in our last few matches. Tonight we did the same and you saw the result.”

Pakhtakor are two points clear of the Saudi side and only need a draw to secure first place and a home match in the round of 16.

Al Ahli coach Ivan Hasek had no complaints about the result as his team remained in last place after their fourth loss in five games.

In the other Group A game, Saba Battery coach Firouz Karimi felt that his team’s heavy fixture list finally caught up with them as they bowed out of contention in the Champions League after a 1-0 loss to Al Hilal.

A free-kick by Libyan midfielder Tareq El Taib three minutes before the break secured a 1-0 victory for the Saudi side at Yadegar-e-Emam Stadium, sending Al Hilal through to the knockout stage while denying the Iranian club a place in the last 16.

It was the third straight loss in Group A for Saba Battery, who have been eliminated from the competition after managing only two points from five games.

It was Abdullatif Husain’s first match as coach of Al Hilal since taking over from the sacked Georges Leekens and he was naturally delighted with the result.

Al Hilal will face group leaders Pakhtakor of Uzbekistan in their final Group A game in Riyadh knowing that a win will take them into the last 16 as group winners.