The victory of the capital's "Kopetdag" over the Turkmenbashi "Shagadam" - 2:1 on Friday kicked off the 31st football championship of Turkmenistan. The game took place on the central arena of the Ashgabat multifunctional stadium in the presence of 2,000 spectators.
The 45-year-old referee Charymyrat Kurbanov, who started his 28th football season as a referee, led the teams to the opening match of the 2023 national championship.
The first goal of the 2023 championship was scored in the first half. Its author at the 25th minute of the game was Yazklych Kurbanov. A sharp pass along the left side of Ovezbay Mukhamedmuradov led to the goal.
In the 66th minute Bayram Ataev equalized the situation with an accurate shot from the penalty area - 1:1.
With this score, Shagadam forward Ikhlas Magtymov missed a great chance to bring his team forward. He went one on one with the goalkeeper, but shot far inaccurately - the ball flew past the gate a meter from the bar.
And after 7 minutes, Kopetdag could lead in the score. Shiri Annaev from 4 meters at close range hit the center of the gate. The visiting team was saved from the inevitable goal by 39-year-old goalkeeper Nikita Gorbunov, who returned to big football after completing his playing career last year. In the 80th minute, he was still powerless against a kick from the 11-meter mark by Shiri Annaev, who converted a penalty for the demolition of Paykhas Khydyrov in the opponent's penalty area.
In the rest before the final whistle, Tofik Shukurov's wards kept the victory, having recorded the first 3 points in their assets.
Kopetdag will play its next match on April 18 away against Energetik from Mary, and Shagadam will play on the same day in the Balkan derby with Nebitchi on the opponent's field.
The first round of the championship of Turkmenistan-2023 will continue on April 15 with matches: Altyn Asyr - Nebitchi, Merv - Ashgabat and Ahal - Energetik.
Recall that the medals of the national championship are contested by 9 teams, which, unlike last year, will play each other not in four, but in three rounds. Three clubs - "Altyn Asyr", "Ashgabat" and "Kopetdag" represent the capital. "Balkan" from Balkanabat and "Shagadam" from Turkmenbashi - Balkan velayat, "Merv" and "Energetik" - Mary velayat, "Ahal" - Akhal velayat, and the debutant of the championship "Arkadag" - the city of the same name of state importance.
Arkadag will play its first match on April 18 with a home meeting against Merv.
According to the results of the championship, which finishes in November, the best team of Turkmenistan will get the right to play in the group stage of the AFC Champions League in 2024, and the winner of the Cup of Turkmenistan-2023 and the silver medalist of the national championship - in the second most important Asian club tournament - the AFC Cup-2024. If the same team becomes the champion and the owner of the Cup of Turkmenistan, then the bronze medalist of the national championship, in addition to the vice-champion, will represent our country in the AFC Cup-2024.
Recall that according to the results of last year's championship, Akhal became the champion of Turkmenistan for the first time. Silver medals went to Altyn Asyr, and bronze medals to Merv.
