As the Turkmenistan Football Championship approaches its finish, all attention is focused on the battle for the silver medals, contested by three teams — "Ahal", "Altyn Asyr", and "Shagadam". In this regard, the opening day of the 26th round, which began with three matches in Ashgabat and Balkanabat, was of particular interest in the capital derby in Byuzmeyin etrap, where "Kopetdag", acting as the nominal home side, faced "Altyn Asyr".
The match started without any probing play, and by the 11th minute "Altyn Asyr" was already leading 3–0. Selim Nurmyradov opened the scoring in the 3rd minute, and then Myrat Annayev netted a brace in the 6th and 11th minutes.
In the 34th minute "Kopetdag" pulled one back thanks to an own goal by Zafar Babajanov. But after the break, Sohbet Durdyyev (50th minute) and Suleyman Muhadov (90th minute) scored two more goals against the Ministry of Internal Affairs team, sealing the final score at 5–1 in favor of "Altyn Asyr". To be fair, it should be noted that from the 61st minute "Kopetdag" played with ten men due to the sending-off of Bayramgeldi Gulmayev.
After this victory "Altyn Asyr" reached 44 points and moved into second place. "Ahal" is one point behind but has played one match fewer.
In another match, held at the capital’s Nisa Stadium, the players of "Arkadag", already three-time champions of Turkmenistan, earned a convincing victory over bottom-placed Mary’s "Merv" — 4–1. Notably, the underdog initially took the lead 1–0 after a goal in the 21st minute by Toyly Gochnazarov. However, just a minute later Ahmet Atayev equalized — 1–1.
After the break, Vladimir Bayramov’s wards scored three more goals. Didar Durdyyev recorded a brace (59th and 76th minutes), strengthening his lead atop the scorers’ chart with 23 goals, six more than his teammate Begench Akmamedov. Another goal was added by Gurbanmuhammet Esenov (90+1). This is "Arkadag’s" 24th victory in 24 matches, and with 72 points the team leads the table.
In another match of the round, Balkanabat’s "Nebitchi" won at home against their closest pursuers, "Ashgabat", thanks to a single goal in the 62nd minute by Myratdurdy Bayramov — 1–0. With 30 points, they have solidified their position in fifth place.
The 26th round will conclude with a match at the capital’s Nisa Stadium between "Ahal" and "Shagadam".
