The «Arkadag» footballers won their fourth victory in a row in the 2026 Turkmenistan Championship among major league clubs, beating the «Shagadam» of Turkmenbashy 3:2 in the opening match of the 4^th round.

This was the first game of the current three-time champion of Turkmenistan this season at their home arena in the city of Arkadag. FC «Arkadag» played its first two home matches at the central arena of the Ashgabat multifunctional stadium, beating «Merv» 7:1 and «Ahal» 1:0.

In the third round, «Arkadag» won away against «Altyn Asyr» 1:0 thanks to a goal in the 9^th minute by Begench Akmammedov. At the end of the match, «Shagadam» snatched a 2-0 victory over «Kopetdag» at their home stadium in Turkmenbashy, following precise strikes from Arslan Urazov (90^th minute) and Yhlas Magtymov (90+6).

In this way, before the face-to-face confrontation, «Arkadag» and «Shagadam» shared the lead with 9 points. And the outcome of the match between these teams would determine which of them would remain at the top of the table.

The hosts started the game quite confidently, taking a 2-0 lead after a brace from Didar Durdyyev (4^th and 38^th minutes). However, the charges of Maksat Shamyradov did not lose heart and by the middle of the second half they had scored both goals thanks to the efforts of Serdar Gulyyev (45^th and 61^st from the penalty spot). It is noteworthy that this is already the second double of S. Gulyyev in the current national championship.

The 75^th minute proved fatal for the visitors, when Shamammet Hydyrov scored the third goal against «Shagadam», giving «Arkadag» a 3-2 victory and sole leadership with 12 points.

«Shagadam» remained in second place with 9 points. «Altyn Asyr» is third with 6 points, but has played one match less.

Next in the tournament table with 4 points are «Ahal» and «Merv», who played in the third round in Ashgabat to a draw – 2:2. It is noteworthy that during the course of this game both teams took the lead once - first «Merv» in the 9th minute after a goal by Mekan Yazmyradov, and then «Ahal» after accurate strikes by Suleyman Mirzoyev (27^th minute) and Magtymberdi Berenov (63^rd). The Mary team escaped defeat in injury time in the 93^rd minute thanks to a double by M. Yazmyradov.

In the fourth round, «Ahal» will play against «Altyn Asyr» at the «Ashgabat» stadium, and «Merv» will host «Ashgabat» at its home field. FC «Ashgabat» suffered its third defeat in a row in the last round, losing 0:1 to local «Nebitchi» in Balkanabat. The winning goal of Begench Mamiyev in the 35^th minute allowed the Balkanabat club to earn its first 3 points. In the 4^th round, «Nebitchi» can build on their success by meeting in Ashgabat with «Kopetdag», who are at the bottom of the standings and who have no points yet.