The footballers of "Akhal" under the leadership of the new head coach Dovletmyrat Annayev won their third consecutive victory, defeating Turkmenbashy "Shagadam" 2-0 in an away match of the 12^th round of the Turkmenistan championship.

Both goals were scored in the second half. The first one for the winners was scored by Akmamet Metdayev in the 56^th minute. And Gurban Annayev set the final score in the 88^th minute.

Earlier, Dovletmyrat Annayev's charges won 1-0 away against Mary's "Energetik" thanks to a penalty converted by Akmamet Metdayev in the 83^rd minute, and then crushed "Merv" 5-1 at home. Salim Umarov scored a double (11^th and 77^th minutes), while Akmamet Metdayev (21^st), Begench Mamiyev (90+4^th), and Alibek Abdurakhmanov (90+6^th) scored one goal each for the winners. For the losers, who played in the minority from the 78^th minute due to the dismissal of Guvanch Berdimyradov, the goal of honor was scored by Ambiar Mahmudov (60^th minute).

43-year-old Dovletmyrat Annayev replaced Serdar Geldiyev on the coaching bench of the team of the Main Department of "Turkmennebitonumleri", who, by decision of the management, will now be engaged in administrative activities within the structure of FC "Akhal".

Prior to joining "Akhal", Dovletmyrat Annayev won the First League with "Kopetdag" in 2019, then assisted Tofik Shukurov in working with this team in the Top League, led FC "Ashgabat" as the head coach, and also the Turkmenistan U17 national team at the qualifying tournament for the Asian Championship in Jordan.

The minimum task set for the new coach of "Ahal", who is assisted by Velsahet Ovezov, Kemal Gurbanov and goalkeeping coach Sapar Ovezov, is to be in the top three, and the maximum is to become the silver medalist.

After the victory over "Shagadam", "Akhal" is in second place with 24 points, lagging 6 points behind "Arkadag", who has a game in hand and convincingly defeated "Nebitchi" 4-0 in Balkanabat in the 12^th round. The reigning champion of Turkmenistan showed impressive firepower in this match, scoring all four goals in 26 minutes. Altymyrat Annadurdyyev scored a hat-trick (3^rd, 9^th and 26^th minutes). Shamamet Hydyrov scored the other goal (12^th minute).

"Altyn asyr" and "Merv" share third and fourth places with 18 points each. "Altyn asyr", who have played two games less, had a bye in the 12^th round. And "Merv" won 1-0 at home against "Ashgabat" due to a penalty converted by Sohbet Allanurova in the 37^th minute.

In another match in Mary between "Energetik" and "Kopetdag", the score remained 0-0.

In the 13^th round of the Turkmenistan football championship, the following matches will be played: "Ashgabat" - "Shagadam", "Kopetdag" - "Merv", "Akhal" - "Arkadag", "Nebitchi" - "Altyn asyr".