The second half of the Turkmenistan Higher League football championship kicked off with Round 8 matches held in Ashgabat, Balkanabat, and Mary. Although the results produced no major upsets, the matchday delivered high-scoring performances from the favorites, key refereeing decisions, and a dramatic late finish in the capital derby.
In Mary, reigning champions “Arkadag” completely dismantled “Merv’s” defense, scoring seven unanswered goals.
The main hero of the match was visiting forward Didar Durdyyev, who recorded a hat-trick in the 9th, 14th, and 58th minutes. “Arkadag” crushed their opponents right from the start: by the 14th minute, the score was already 3–0. Between the first and second goals, Shamammet Hydyrov also scored in the 11th minute. In the second half, the league leaders only reinforced their total dominance with additional goals from Dayanch Meredov (72nd minute), Velmyrat Ballakov (75th), and Yazgylych Gurbanov (81st).
In Ashgabat, bottom-placed “Kopetdag” hosted “Ahal,” who were occupying the last spot in the top three. Despite the difference in the standings, the match kept spectators on edge until the beginning of the second half. The turning point came in the 53rd minute when home defender Galabeg Jumamyradov received his second yellow card and was sent off, while a penalty was awarded against “Kopetdag.”
After converting the penalty, “Ahal,” now playing with a numerical advantage, completely took control of the game and went on to secure a crushing victory, scoring four goals within half an hour. Nazar Tovakelov scored a brace for the winners (a penalty in the 53rd minute and another goal in the 67th), while Byashim Gurbanberdiyev (70th minute) and Hakmukhammet Byashimov (83rd minute) each added one goal.
The capital derby between “Ashgabat” and “Altyn Asyr,” played at Nisa Stadium, seemed headed for a goalless draw. The hosts defended in an organized manner and managed to contain the attacks of their more illustrious opponents. However, “Altyn Asyr’s” class proved decisive in the closing stages of the match: in the 86th minute, Abdyrakhman Annamyradov scored the winning goal to secure a crucial 1–0 victory for his team, allowing them to continue chasing the league leaders.
The only match of the round without goals took place in the west of the country, in Balkanabat, where “Nebitchi” and “Shagadam” of Turkmenbashi played to a 0–0 draw in the Balkan derby. The draw allowed “Shagadam” to maintain fourth place in the standings, while “Nebitchi” earned an important point after a series of unsuccessful results.
As a result, after eight rounds, “Arkadag” confidently remains in first place with 24 points. “Altyn Asyr” is second with 19 points, while “Ahal” strengthened its hold on third place with 17 points thanks to slip-ups by competitors.
There was also a change in the top scorers’ race. After scoring a hat-trick in Matchday 8, “Arkadag” striker Didar Durdyyev moved into first place with 7 goals (1 from a penalty). Suleyman Mirzoyev of “Ahal” and Serdar Gulyyev of “Shagadam” share second and third place with 5 goals each. Mirzoyev has scored 1 penalty goal, while Gulyyev has scored 2.
