Three matches of the 18th round were played in the Turkmenistan Football Championship among top-division clubs.
The main event of the round was “Arkadag’s” emphatic away victory over the seaside club “Shagadam” in Turkmenbashi, with a score of 3–0. The visitors opened the scoring as early as the 11th minute through a well-placed shot by Yazgylych Gurbanov. In the second half, the league leaders consolidated their advantage when Altymyrat Annadurdyev converted a penalty in the 65th minute. Begench Akmammedov put the final touch to the match in the 84th minute.
The match in Mary proved to be particularly dramatic, with local side “Merv” snatching a 3–2 victory over “Ashgabat.” After falling behind to a goal by Orazaly Begnazarov in the 12th minute, the hosts made a powerful comeback in the second half, with Mekan Yazmyradov scoring in the 67th minute and Mukam Nazzyyev in the 71st. The visitors levelled the score through Mergen Nurlyyev in the 76th minute. However, in the 89th minute, Salim Umarov secured three crucial points for “Merv.”
In Ashgabat, at the Kopetdag Stadium, the hosts drew 2–2 with “Nebitçi” from Balkanabat. The visitors took the lead early on and went ahead twice during the match, thanks to goals by Akmammet Metdayev in the 9th minute and Dayanch Nuryyev in the 28th. However, “Kopetdag” managed to avoid defeat through goals from Emir Berdiyev in the 21st minute and Arslan Saparov in the 72nd.
The central match of the round between “Ahal” and “Altyn Asyr” has been postponed to one of the reserve match days due to the participation of the Turkmenistan national team in the 2027 AFC U20 Asian Cup qualifying tournament.
Following the matches played, “Arkadag” remain unbeaten in the championship: 19 victories in 19 matches and 57 points. “Ahal” remain in second place with 36 points, while “Altyn Asyr” occupy third place with 35 points. At the same time, the latter two teams have played two fewer matches than the leaders.
“Nebitchi” are in fourth place with 19 points. Their victory over “Ashgabat” enabled “Merv” to collect 17 points and rise to fifth place, pushing “Shagadam” down to sixth with 16 points. “Ashgabat” are seventh with 14 points, while “Kopetdag” bring up the rear with 12 points.
In the goalscoring race, the clear leader is the top scorer of the last four national championships, Didar Durdyyev of “Arkadag,” who has scored 18 goals, three of them from penalties. Arslan Saparov of “Kopetdag” and Suleyman Mirzoyev of “Ahal” share second and third place with nine goals each. Saparov has scored from the penalty spot only once, while Mirzoyev has converted two penalty kicks.
