The 18th round of the Turkmenistan Football Championship among the Premier League clubs started with three matches in Ashgabat, Balkanabat and Turkmenbashi.
In this round, two-time national champion Arkadag visited Turkmenbashi Shagadam, which held off the attacks of the current winner of the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League until the 42nd minute. However, in the time remaining before the break, the home team managed to concede three goals. They were scored by Mekan Saparov (42nd minute), Didar Durdyev (45+1) and Begench Akmamedov (45+3).
The second half had barely begun when Didar Durdyev scored a double in the 46th minute. Only at the end of the match, Shagadam responded with a goal of prestige, which was scored in the 86th minute by Mekan Ashirov, who now has 8 goals (1 from a penalty). Arkadag footballers occupy the first three lines in the scorers’ race: Didar Durdyev – 18 goals (1 from a penalty), Begench Akmamedov – 17 (1) and Altymurad Annadurdyev – 13 (1).
Having won over Shagadam – 4:1, Arkadag with 57 points further strengthened its leadership. Akhal is 26 points behind the leader, but it has played 4 matches less. Third and fourth places are shared by Shagadam and Altyn Asyr with 29 points, with the latter having one unplayed match.
The fifth position with 19 points is held by Nebitchi, which won at home against Mary’s Merv – 1:0 thanks to an accurate strike in the 3rd minute by Serdar Tukiyev.
Ashgabat is 2 points behind the Balkanabat club, having won with the same score in the capital derby away against Kopetdag. The victory for Ashgabat was brought to him by a spectacular strike in the 62nd minute by former Ahal footballer Begmyrat Bayov.
The 18th round will end with a match between Ahal and Altyn Asyr. This will be the first game of the vice-champion of Turkmenistan after the victory in the preliminary round of the AFC Champions League 2 qualification over the Tajik team Regar-TadAZ – 2:1.
