The 35th edition of the Turkmenistan Football Cup starts today with four quarterfinal matches.
This year, the second most important club trophy is being contested by eight teams in the top league. Three of them – «Altyn asyr», «Ashgabat» and «Kopetdag» represent the capital. «Nebitchi» from Balkanabat and «Shagadam» from Turkmenbashy are from the Balkan velayat, «Merv» is from the Mary velayat, «Ahal» is from the Ahal velayat, and the current champion and winner of the Turkmenistan Cup, «Arkadag», is from the city of the same name of national significance.
The first teams to take to the field in the city of Turkmenbashy will be «Shagadam» and «Kopetdag».
The remaining three fights will take place in Ashgabat. «Altyn Asyr» and «Ashgabat» will meet in the capital derby at the stadium in Buzmeyin etrap. The current champion and winner of the Turkmenistan Cup, «Arkadag», will play against «Merv» of the Mary at the «Nisa» stadium, while «Ahal» and «Nebitchi» will square off at the «Ashgabat» multifunctional stadium.
The return matches of the quarter-finals will take place on the 24th of June.
Last year, FC «Arkadag» won the Turkmenistan Cup for the third time, achieving a comeback 2-1 victory in the final over the vice-champion of the country and two-time Champions League participant, AFC «Ahal».