The Arkadag footballers won their fourth victory in a row in the 2026 Turkmenistan Championship among major league clubs, beating the Shagadam of Turkmenbashy 3:2 in the opening match of the 4th round.
This was the first game of the current three-time champion of Turkmenistan this season at their home arena in the city of Arkadag.FC Arkadag played its first two home matches at the central arena of the Ashgabat multifunctional stadium, beating Merv 7:1 and Ahal 1:0.
In the third round, Arkadag won away against Altyn Asyr 1:0 thanks to a goal in the 9th minute by Begench Akmammedov.At the end of the match, Shagadam snatched a 2-0 victory over Kopetdag at their home stadium in Turkmenbashy, following precise strikes from Arslan Urazov (90th minute) and Yhlas Magtymov (90+6).
In this way, before the face-to-face confrontation, Arkadag and Shagadam shared the lead with 9 points.And the outcome of the match between these teams would determine which of them would remain at the top of the table.
The hosts started the game quite confidently, taking a 2-0 lead after a brace from Didar Durdyyev (4th and 38th minutes).However, the charges of Maksat Shamyradov did not lose heart and by the middle of the second half they had scored both goals thanks to the efforts of Serdar Gulyyev (45th and 61st from the penalty spot).
It is noteworthy that this is already the second double of S.Gulyyev in the current national championship.The 75th minute proved fatal for the visitors, when Shamammet Hydyrov scored the third goal against Shagadam, giving Arkadag a 3-2 victory and sole leadership with 12 points.
Shagadam remained in second place with 9 points.Altyn Asyr is third with 6 points, but has played one match less.Next in the tournament table with 4 points are Ahal and Merv, who played in the third round in Ashgabat to a draw 2:2.
It is noteworthy that during the course of this game both teams took the lead once - first Merv in the 9th minute after a goal by Mekan Yazmyradov, and then Ahal after accurate strikes by Suleyman Mirzoyev (27th minute) and Magtymberdi Berenov (63rd).
The Mary team escaped defeat in injury time in the 93rd minute thanks to a double by M.Yazmyradov.In the fourth round, Ahal will play against Altyn Asyr at the Ashgabat stadium, and Merv will host Ashgabat at its home field.
FC Ashgabat suffered its third defeat in a row in the last round, losing 0:1 to local Nebitchi in Balkanabat.The winning goal of Begench Mamiyev in the 35th minute allowed the Balkanabat club to earn its first 3 points.
In the 4th round, Nebitchi can build on their success by meeting in Ashgabat with Kopetdag, who are at the bottom of the standings and who have no points yet.