Three postponed matches of the 21st round took place in the Turkmenistan Football Championship among the top league clubs.
The most productive game in it was in Balkanabat, where the local «Nebitchi» hosted the current winner of the AFC Challenge League «Arkadag». The meeting was held with an overwhelming advantage of the guests, who scored four goals in each half, conceding only one in their own. Begench Akmammedov (3rd, 10th and 50th minutes) and Shamammet Hydyrov (45+1, 65 - from a penalty and 66) scored a hat-trick for «Arkadag», and Ibrahim Mammedov (28) and Gurbanmuhammet Esenov (87) scored one goal each. For the losers, Abdymuhammet Begjanov scored a consolation goal in the 84th minute.
Having won their 17th victory in a row, Vladimir Bayramov's team with 51 points further strengthened their leading position. «Ahal» is 20 points behind «Arkadag» with two games in reserve; its game with «Ashgabat» was postponed to one of the reserve days due to the participation of the vice-champion of Turkmenistan in the qualifying match of the AFC-2 Champions League against the Tajik club «Regar-TadAZ».
Third place in the tournament table with 29 points is occupied by Ashgabat's «Altyn Asyr», which unexpectedly played a 0:0 draw away to Mary's «Merv», which is in 7th place with 10 points.
Turkmenbashy «Shagadam» also stumbled in this round, sensationally losing to outsider «Kopetdag» in the last minutes of the game in Ashgabat - 1:2. In the first half, the opponents scored once each. The goal by Dayanch Meredov (19th minute) was answered by the guests in the 25th minute with an accurate strike by Mekan Ashyrov. The hosts snatched victory in stoppage time in the 93rd minute thanks to the efforts of Jumamyrat Jumayev.
Having suffered an unfortunate defeat, «Shagadam» remained in fourth place with 28 points, and «Kopetdag», having won its second victory in the championship, still closes the tournament table with 8 points.
There have been some changes in the dispute of scorers. After this round, the leadership with 15 goals (1 penalty each) is shared by «Arkadag» players Begench Akmammedov and Didar Durdyyev. Teammate Altymyrat Annadurdyyev gives them two goals. Next come: Shamammet Hydyrov («Arkadag») – 7 (1 from the penalty spot), Mekan Ashyrov («Shagadam») – 6 goals. 6-8 places with 5 goals are shared by: Yhlas Saparmamedov («Arkadag»), Meylis Diniyev («Ahal») and Zafar Babajanov («Altyn Asyr»). Abdyresul Abdyyev («Merv»), Magtymberdi Berenov («Ahal»), Dayanch Meredov («Kopetdag»), Suleyman Muhadov («Altyn Asyr») have 4 goals each. Elman Tagayev («Ahal»), Velmyrat Ballakov, Shanazar Tirkishov (both «Arkadag»), Selim Nurmyradov («Altyn Asyr»), Yhlas Magtymov («Shagadam») and Bashim Gurbanberdiyev («Ashgabat») scored 3 goals each.
turkmenistan.gov.tm
