The football players of "Arkadag" have returned to the top of the tournament table of the Turkmenistan championship among the clubs of the top league, having won six consecutive victories. This was largely facilitated by their successful performance in the last two matches, in which the team representing Turkmenistan’s state-level "smart" city won both games with the same score of 3:1: an away match in the 8th round against the capital’s "Kopetdag" and a home postponed match of the 2nd round against "Ahal."
The match against the underdog "Kopetdag" proved difficult for the two-time Turkmenistan champion, who was trailing 0:1 at halftime. Batyr Ashyrov opened the scoring in the 40th minute. However, after the break, Vladimir Bayramov’s team turned the game around and scored three goals against their opponents, credited to Begench Akmamedov (52nd minute, penalty), Didar Durdyev (65th minute), and Shanazar Tirkishov (88th minute).
Events on the field unfolded differently in the match against "Ahal," which had previously won 1:0 in Balkanabat against "Nebitchi" in the 8th round thanks to an own goal by Gurbangeldi Batyrov in the 63rd minute. Already in the 4th minute, referee Eziz Annamyradov from Balkanabat awarded a penalty kick against "Ahal" for a foul by Hakmuhamet Byashimov inside his own penalty area. However, Guychmyrat Annagulyev failed to convert the penalty, shooting over the crossbar.
In the 14th minute, "Arkadag" finally opened the scoring thanks to a precise shot by Ihlas Saparmamedov. Two minutes later, Didar Durdyev, the top scorer of the last two seasons, doubled the lead. In the second minute of first-half added time, Meylis Diniyev pulled one back for "Ahal." The final score of 3:1 in favor of "Arkadag" was set by Begench Akmamedov in the 70th minute.
After this game, "Arkadag," with 18 points, took the lead in the national championship table. "Ahal" also has 18 points, but the team from the Main Department of "Turkmennebitumleri" has played two fewer matches and trails the current champion and AFC Challenge League finalist on tiebreakers.
Completing the top three with 13 points is "Altyn Asyr," which lost 1:3 in the capital derby to "Ashgabat" in the 8th round. Notably, during the match, the "city team" was trailing 0:1 after Selim Nurmuradov’s goal in the 16th minute. The comeback victory for "Ashgabat" was secured by Pirmyrat Sultanov, who scored a brace in the 23rd and 63rd minutes, and Mergen Nurlyev, who scored in stoppage time at the 93rd minute.
Following this victory, "Ashgabat," with 10 points, rose to fifth place, trailing by two points the Turkmenbashy team "Shagadam," which drew 1:1 with "Merv" in Mary. The guests took an early lead with a goal by Selim Ataev in the 8th minute. "Merv" equalized in the 97th minute of added time with a precise shot by Maksat Chagbaliev. The teams finished the match with reduced squads after Myrat Ovezmyradov ("Merv") was sent off in the 78th minute and Azizbek Bekchanov ("Shagadam") in the 96th minute for two yellow cards.
After these matches, Didar Durdyev ("Arkadag") took the lead in the top scorers’ race with 6 goals. Two goals behind him are his teammates Altymyrat Annadurdyev, Begench Akmamedov, and Ihlas Saparmamedov, as well as Meylis Diniyev ("Ahal"). Abdyresul Abdyev ("Merv"), Zafar Babajanov ("Altyn Asyr"), and Byashim Gurbanberdiyev ("Ashgabat") have scored 3 goals each. Gurban Annaev, Dayanch Meredov, Elman Tagaev (all from "Ahal"), Myrat Annaev, Selim Nurmyradov (both from "Altyn Asyr"), Mekan Ashyrov, Ihlas Magtymov (both from "Shagadam"), Meylis Gaylyev ("Ashgabat"), and Shanazar Tirkishov ("Arkadag") have each scored 2 goals.
The 9th round of the Turkmenistan football championship will begin on May 2 with the match "Altyn Asyr" vs. "Nebitchi," and will conclude on May 3 with the matches: "Shagadam" vs. "Ashgabat," "Merv" vs. "Kopetdag," and "Ahal" vs. "Arkadag."
