Matches in Ashgabat, Mary and Turkmenbashy ended the 8th round of the championship of Turkmenistan on football among clubs of the highest league.
The focus of it was a duel at the stadium in the Buzmeyinsky etrap of the capital, in which contenders for the medals of the current national championship - «Altyn Asyr» and «Arkadag» met. Before this game, the teams were located next to each other at the top of the standings: the finalist of the AFC Cup 2018 «Altyn Asyr» with 14 points took the second place, and the debutant of the national championship «Arkadag», representing the city of the same name of state significance under construction 30 kilometers from the capital, was the first with a lead of 4 points from its closest pursuer.
The vice-champion of Turkmenistan resolutely tuned in to the game in the hope of closing the gap from the leader and opened the scoring in the first half. Azat Annayev did it in the 18th minute. The teams went to the break with a minimal advantage of the team of the agency «Turkmenaragatnashyk» - 1:0.
However, as soon as the second half began, Abdy Bashimov restored the status quo in the 47th minute - 1:1. This account lasted until the end of regular time of the game. Everything seemed to be heading for a draw. However, in the 3rd stoppage minute, the guests carried out a productive attack, which was completed with an accurate blow by Shanazar Tirkishov.
Having snatched a strong-willed victory with a score of 2:1 in the last minutes of the game, «Arkadag» scored 21 points and further strengthened its leading position. «Altyn Asyr» and «Kopetdag» are 7 points behind the leader, and «Nebitchi» from Balkanabat is 8 points behind.
In the Mary derby, in which «Merv and Energetik» met at the «Sport Toplumy» stadium, the winner was also determined in stoppage time. In the 93rd minute, fortune smiled on Arslan Yusupov, whose accurate shot brought «Energetik» a 1-0 victory. In fairness, it should be noted that for most of the second half, «Merv» played in the minority after being sent off in the 52nd minute for Azat OrazmuhamMedov's two yellow cards. After this game, «Energetik», having scored 6 points, overtook «Merv», which occupied the 8th place with 5 points.
Turkmenbashy «Shagadam» moved up to the sixth line in the standings with 7 points, beating the team «Ashgabat» at home - 3:2. Bayram Atayev scored for the winners (30th minute) and Guvanch Abylov scored twice (60th and 67th). The losers have goals on account of Sohbet Allanurov (44th - from the penalty spot) and Hojanazar Gurbanov (87th).
Having suffered the fourth defeat in the championship, «Ashgabat» remained in fifth position with 9 points.
There were no big changes in the competition of scorers. After eight rounds with 9 goals, Didar Durdyyev («Arkadag») is confidently leading. Football players of «Altyn Asyr» Myrat Annayev and Vahit Orazsahedov are 4 goals behind him.
The 9th round of the Turkmenistan football championship starts on the 26th of May with the game «Arkadag» - «Ahal», and ends on the 27th of May with the matches: «Ashgabat» - «Kopetdag», «Nebitchi» - «Merv» and «Energetik» - «Altyn Asyr».
