The seventh round of the Turkmenistan Premier League Football Championship presented fans with a spectacular spectacle.The favourites staged a veritable parade of goals, cementing their position at the top of the standings, while the reigning champions, Arkadag, celebrated a significant anniversary with a crushing victory.
At the central arena of the multifunctional Ashgabat stadium, the championship leader left no stone unturned in the defence of Kopetdag, crushing them with a score of 7:1.
The outcome of the match was decided in the first half, when five goals flew into the home net of the team, starting with a disappointing own goal in the 18th minute by Vahit Vahitov.
For Arkadag, Meylis Diniyev (19th and 60th minutes) and Mirza Beknazarov (34th and 77th) scored twice, while Yhlas Toyjanov (23rd) and Begench Akmammedov (41st) each scored one goal.Kopetdag managed to respond in the 80th minute only with a consolation goal from Mekan Amannyyazov.
This resounding victory for Arkadag coincided with a significant milestone in the history of the club.Exactly one year ago, this Turkmen football club won its first international trophy the 2024/25 AFC Challenge League Cup.
Let us remind that in that dramatic final at the Morodok Techo National Stadium in Phnom Penh (Cambodia), the Turkmen club snatched victory from the Cambodian team Preah Khan Rich Svay Rieng with a score of 2:1 in extra time.The winning goal was scored in the 112th minute by Altymyrat Annadurdyyev.
In another match of the 7th round at the Nisa stadium of the capital, the Ahal footballers confidently dealt with Ashgabat on the road, scoring three unanswered goals.The key moment was a goal scored in the dressing room by Oraz Orazov in the fourth minute of stoppage time of the first half.
After the break, in the 50th minute, Suleyman Mirzoyev doubled the lead, and Enver Annayev put the finishing touches on the game with a precise penalty kick in the 81st minute.
Another medal contender, the Altyn Asyr of the capital, took home a difficult but well-deserved three points from Balkanabat, beating Nebitchi 2-0.The scoring was opened in the 28th minute by Rovshengeldi Halmammedov.
The hosts tried to save the match, but at the very end, in the 4th minute of added time, Abdyrahman Annamyradov removed all doubts about the winner.The only match of the round where a draw was recorded 1:1 took place in the city of Turkmenbashy, where the local Shagadam hosted Merv.
The guests from Mary stunned the hosts with a quick goal Kemal Annamuhammedov scored in the 8th minute.Shagadam of the primorskiy stormed defensive redoubts of Merv for a long time and persistently, achieving their goal in the 76th minute thanks to a precise strike by Yagshysahet Dovletgeldiyev.
After seven rounds, the top of the table remains level, but the pace set by the leaders is astonishing.Having won all matches, Arkadag takes first place with a perfect record of 21 points.
Altyn Asyr, who are next with 16 points, maintain a 5-point gap.Ahal rounds out the top three with 14 points.In the race of the scorers, the lead with 5 goals is shared between Suleyman Mirzoyev (Ahal) and Serdar Gulyyev (Shagadam).
The first one scored 1 goal from a penalty, and the second one scored 2.Mekan Ashyrov (Altyn Asyr) and Didar Durdyyev (Arkadag) scored 4 goals each (1 from a penalty kick).
The matches of the 8th round, which starts the second round of the national championship, will feature: Merv - Arkadag, Kopetdag - Ahal, Ashgabat - Altyn Asyr and Nebitchi - Shagadam.