The 2025 Turkmenistan Football Cup has only just started, but already in its very first stage, an uncompromising battle has erupted for the country’s second most prestigious club trophy.

This was evidenced by the first quarterfinal matches, in which only the reigning national champion “Arkadag” secured a decisive home victory over Balkanabat’s “Nebitchi” – 6:0, thereby giving themselves a comfortable advantage ahead of the return leg. In the other three matches, the intrigue began right from the first stage.

Two surprises took place in matches held simultaneously in Ashgabat at the “Sport Toplumy” stadium in Buzmeyin etrap and at “Nisa.” In the first of these, “Ashgabat” unexpectedly won away against the 2018 AFC Cup finalist “Altyn Asyr” – 2:1. The match for Tofik Shukurov’s team could have ended with a more comfortable result – 2:0 after a brace by Mergen Nurlyev (36th and 45+1st minutes). However, in the 88th minute, the guests were left with ten men after Pirmyrat Sultanov was sent off for two yellow cards. Then, in stoppage time in the 92nd minute, the hosts managed to “break the deadlock” – 2:1 thanks to a penalty converted by Rovshengeldi Halmamedov.

In another match, vice-champion “Ahal,” playing with a numerical advantage from the 66th minute after the opposing team’s Jumamyrat Jumayev was sent off, could not overcome “Kopetdag,” which currently sit at the bottom of the national championship. During the match, Velsakhet Ovezov’s side twice found themselves behind after goals in the 45+2nd and 79th minutes by Orazgeldi Seyidov. Nevertheless, eight minutes before the end of regular time, “Ahal” managed to avoid defeat thanks to the efforts of Yakubmukhammet Govshudov (45+3rd) and Begmyrat Bayev (82nd).

In another encounter, held in the city of Turkmenbashi between “Shagadam” and Mary’s “Merv,” no winner could be determined. Here, the teams parted ways peacefully – 0:0.

The second-leg matches of the 2025 Turkmenistan Football Cup quarterfinals will take place on June 17-18.