Current champion of the country, Altyn Asyr team of the Türkmenaragatnaşyk Agency of the Ministry of Industry and Communication of Turkmenistan, is one the first place in D group by the result of six matches and would continue contesting for the AFC Cup, having qualified to inter-zone semi-final.
Statistics of football club from Turkmenistan are as follows: the team has 10 points after two wins and four matches, which resulted in draft. Difference between scored and missed goals is plus three – players of Altyn Asyr scored 7 goals to their opponents and missed three goals.
We would like to recollect how the group round of the AFC Cup was going on for Turkmen players.
Altyn Asyr had its first match at the Dordoy Stadium, Bishkek on April 3 where Turkmen football players were received by local football club Dordoy Dinamo. Th ematch ended up in draw, both team scored one goal to opponents.
After two years, Altyn Asyr tried against famous and most titled club of Tajikistan “Istiklol” at his field. The result of the match was 1:1.
On April 30, Turkmen football players went to another club from Tajikistan “Hudjant”, which also resulted in 0:0 draw again.
On May 15, when Altyn Asyr received Hudjant at his field, the advantage was on Turkmen sportsmen side who controlled the game throughout the match and won 1:0. The result of the match could be better but football luck was not entirely on the side our team. Yet, the play of the goalkeeper of Hudjant was outstanding.
On June 19, big 3:0 win was taken over Dordoy Dinamo in Ashgabat. Thus, players of Altyn Asyr with 9 points was enough not to lose in the final match with strong Istiklol. And they have managed to do this, having played 1:1 on June 26. Both goals were scored in the second half and despite all efforts, the players from Tajikistan could not manage to have such necessary victory.
Therefore, current champion of Turkmenistan is ahead of the champion of Tajikistan and hold the first line in the table of D Group in the context for qualification to the next round of 2019 AFC Cup.
The participation of football club Altyn Asyr in the final of 2018 AFC Cup last year and confident qualification from the group indicates stable, creative, thoughtful and spectacular game of Turkmen team.
It is worth reminding that inter-zone semi-finals will be held on August 20 – 21 and 10 – 11 September, the finals on September 25 and October 2 while the final of the Asian Football Confederation Cup will be held on November 2 this year.
