Football players of «Ahal» and «Shagadam» from Turkmenbashi city will meet in the decisive match for the second most important club trophy - the Cup of Turkmenistan. This was determined by the results of the semi-finals, in which «Ahal» won against Ashgabat «Altyn Asyr» - 2: 1, and «Shagadam» took over the capital «Kopetdag» - 1: 0.

Let's remind, unlike the previous draws, in the current tournament the pair winners at all stages are determined by the results of one match, not two.

Earlier in the quarter-final stage, «Ahal» defeated «Ashgabat» - 2: 1, and «Shagadam» beat «Merv» - 3: 1.

The semi-final match between «Altyn Asyr» and «Ahal» took place in Ashgabat at the Sport toplumy stadium in Buzmeyin etrap. It was the third match of the current season of the reigning champion and vice-champion of Turkmenistan. In the game of the first round of the national championship, «Ahal» won - 3: 1. And in the second-round meeting, «Altyn Asyr» took revenge - 2: 1.

The cup match of the two best teams in the country was held with varying success in a fierce struggle, as evidenced by the 10 yellow and 1 red card shown to the referees to the participants of the match.

At the end of the first half, «Ahal» took the lead - 1: 0. In the 45th minute, a long pass from the depths of the field was followed by the defenders, and Muhamed Huryagdyev, who went one-on-one with the goalkeeper, opened the scoring.

Shortly after the break, «Altyn Asyr» won back a goal. On 50 minutes, the hosts played a corner attack from the right flank, and Velmurad Ballakov leveled the position from an acute angle - 1: 1.

And towards the end of the meeting, Elman Tagayev, the best player of the AFC-2021 Cup on kick conversion, flashed his sniper qualities. On the 85th minute, the captain «Ahal» from 25 meters excellently executed a free kick, after which the ball flew into the upper corner of the goal. Mamed Orazmuhamedov.

In the remaining time, «Altyn Asyr», who was pumping the game in the minority due to the removal in the 4th minute for two yellow cards by Murad Annayev, made a lot of efforts to change the score. But he could not escape defeat, having resigned as the owner of the Cup of Turkmenistan.

The second semi-final in Turkmenbashi city between «Shagadam» and «Kopetdag» turned out to be no less tense in terms of the intensity of the struggle, in which the referee showed the players 9 yellow and 2 red card.

In the first half, the home team looked preferable on the field, which even before the break took the lead - 1: 0. On the 26th minute, after a corner, the ball bounced to Resul Mahmudov, and he hit the gate of his former team from 12 meters.

The second half of the match was held with a noticeable advantage for the guests, but they were not able to derive any benefit from this.

The teams finished the game in incomplete compositions. First, in the 49th minute, the referee sent off Farhad Italmazov form «Shagadam» in two warnings, and then in the 82nd minute he leveled the lineups, expelling Ihlas Saparmamedov from «Kopetdag» from the field for two yellow cards.

This, «Shagadam» reached the final of the Cup of Turkmenistan for the fifth time in its history. Twice in the decisive match, the seasiders were inferior to their rivals in a penalty shootout: in 2002, Turkmenbat’s «Karakum»- 2: 4 (in the main and extra time of the game - 0: 0), and in 2015, «Altyn Asyr» - 6: 7 (in the main and extra time of the game - 0: 0). And only once in 2007, under the leadership of the famous former footballer Kurbanmamed Meredov, the footballers of «Shagadam» won in the final against Mary «Merv» - 1: 0 and won the Cup of the country for the first time.

For «Ahal», the upcoming final of the Turkmenistan Cup will be also the fifth. In 2013 the footballers of this club, under the leadership of the honored coach of Turkmenistan Ali Gurbani, won the trophy for the first time, having won the decisive match «Altyn Asyr» - 2: 1. And in 2014 they repeated the same success, but with the head coach Guvanchmuhamed Ovekov, taking over the Balkan in the final - 3: 2.

It is noteworthy, that four years ago, «Ahal» and «Shagadam» played with each other in the final of Turkmenistan Cup. And then, the team of the Main Directorate of «Turkmennebitonumleri», under the leadership of the head coach Rovshan Meredov, won a major victory - 4: 0 and won the honorary trophy for the third time.

Last time «Ahal» played in final of Turkmenistan Cup in 2019, and lost to «Altyn Asyr» – 0:3.

The final match will be held on 22 December, after which it will be known the new winner of Turkmenistan Football Cup.