A heated battle for the top spots is unfolding among top league clubs in the Turkmenistan Football Championship. In the 22^nd round match, «Altyn Asyr» made a strong bid for silver medals, defeating «Ashgabat» with a score of 4:0.

The game, in which «Ashgabat» players were the nominal home team, took place at a stadium in the Buzmeyin etrap of the capital, where «Altyn Asyr» plays all its home matches.

The capital derby ended with a noticeable advantage for the 2018 AFC Cup finalist. Sohbet Durdyyev opened the scoring in the 37^th minute, calmly converting a penalty. In the second half, advantage of the visitors translated into a rout: in the 51^st minute, Mekan Ashyrov also scored from the penalty spot, in the 58^th minute, Rovshengeldi Halmammedov scored, and Abdyrahmanov Annamyradov put the finishing touches on the match in the 80^th minute.

Thanks to this victory, «Altyn Asyr» secured second place and moved 5 points ahead of third-placed «Ahal», with one game in hand.

The Balkan derby in Balkanabat, where local side «Nebitchi» hosted «Shagadam» of Turkmenbashy, turned out quite differently. The game turned out to be tough and tense. The visitors took the lead in the third minute of stoppage time of the first half thanks to a goal by Serdar Gulyyev. Finding themselves in the role of those playing catch-up, the «Nebitchi» footballers were able to turn the tide of the match after the break. The home team secured a comeback victory thanks to a precise strike by Bayramgeldi Nurlyyev in the 64^th minute and a converted penalty by Dayanch Nurlyyev in the 73^rd minute. The result of the match was 2:1 in favour of «Nebitchi», who after this success tied on points with «Shagadam», who are in fourth place. At the same time, the Balkanabat team has a match in hand.

Let's remember that there is no longer any intrigue at the top of the tournament table: FC «Arkadag» has won the title of Turkmenistan champion ahead of schedule for the fourth time in a row.

However, the battle for the top scorers continues, although there is little intrigue here either. The undisputed leader in the scoring race with 22 goals scored (4 of which were penalties) remains «Arkadag» striker Didar Durdyyev, confirming his status as the best attacking player of the last four seasons. Rovshengeldi Halmammedov from «Altyn Asyr» moved up to second place following the results of the last round, now with 10 goals to his name. Third place goes to «Ahal» forward Suleyman Mirzoyev, who also has 10 goals scored, but two of them were scored from penalties.