«Ahal» footballers won silver medals in the championship of Turkmenistan. The team of the Main Directorate of «Turkmennebitonumleri» secured the second place one round before the end of the national championship, having won the away match «Ashgabat» - 2: 1.

The game took place in the central arena of the multifunctional stadium «Ashgabat».

The guests quickly took the lead after the penalty kick realized by Elman Tagaev in the 7th minute. This is already the 10th goal in the 2021 championship for the captain of «Ahal», who continues to confidently lead in the scorers' dispute. On the 36th minute Serdar Geldyev doubled the advantage of the vice-champion of Turkmenistan.

In the 66th minute, Murad Amantaganov scored one goal from the penalty spot, but the hosts could not escape defeat.

After gaining 26 points after this victory, «Ahal» became unattainable for their pursuers and won the silver medals of the national championship for the sixth time. Previously, the zonal finalist of the 2021 AFC Cup achieved such success in 2014 and four times in a row since 2017.

In another match of the 13th round, Ashgabat «Altyn Asyr», which won the gold of the national championship for the eighth time ahead of schedule, in the rank of champion could not beat the local «Merv» in Mary - 2: 2, interrupting the winning streak of eight games.

On the 43rd minute, Altymurad Annadurdyev took the team of the Turkmenaragatnashyk agency forward - 1: 0, scoring the sixth goal (1 - from the penalty spot) in the current national championship. It is noteworthy that in this match the top scorer of last year's championship could have distinguished himself at least three more times. But in two cases the goal post deflected the ball after his strikes, and in the third episode in the 53rd minute Altymurad was unable to convert the penalty, which was assigned for the demolition in the penalty area of the owners of Begenchmurad Muradov.

In the 60th minute, Begenchmurad Muradov doubled the lead of Altyn Asyr, which, by playing advantage, should have easily brought the match to victory. However, towards the end of the meeting, with an interval of three minutes, Mukam Nazzyev (88th) and Pirmurad Gazakov (90 + 1) scored two goals into the opponent's goal, keeping Merv's ghostly chances for bronze medals.

For the round before the end of the championship, the fifth-placed «Merv» has 17 points. «Kopetdag» and «Shagadam» occupy the fourth and third lines of the tournament table with 18 and 20 points, respectively.

In the last round, «Shagadam» missed the chance to secure bronze medals ahead of schedule, losing in the last minutes of the game at the central arena of the multifunctional stadium «Ashgabat» to the capital's «Kopetdag» - 1: 2.

At first, nothing boded well for the team from the seaside city of Turkmenbashi, which in the 25th minute, thanks to the efforts of Nazar Tovakelov, took the lead - 1: 0. However, after the break, the situation on the pitch changed. First, in the 60th minute, Begench Akmamedov restored the status quo - 1: 1. And 3 minutes before the end of regular time, Shiri Annayev converted a penalty, bringing «Kopetdag» a strong-willed victory.

In another match of the 13th round, which was held in Balkanabat, Nebitchi confidently took the upper hand over Energetik Mary - 4: 1. It is noteworthy that by the 5th minute of the game the hosts were leading 2: 0. First, Azat Garajayev scored in the 2nd minute, and three minutes later, Energetik footballer Garly Garlyev cut the ball into his own net. Before leaving for the break, Kemal Metdaev (19th and 42nd minutes) scored a double, bringing the score to a large one - 4: 0.

In the second half, «Nebitchi» slowed down in the attack, allowing Perman Khallyev to score a prestige goal in the 60th minute. «Energetic» in this match could have scored one more goal. However, Tirkish Mukhametberdyev didn’t convert on the 39th minute the penalty assigned for the handball of the Nebitchi defender in his own penalty area. The 11-meter free kick was brilliantly parried by goalkeeper Batyr Babaev.

The final round of the Turkmenistan football championship, which will determine the fate of the bronze medals, will take place on December 19. On this day will play: «Altyn Asyr» - «Nebitchi», «Energetik» - «Kopetdag», «Shagadam» - «Ashgabat» and «Ahal» - «Merv».