In Ashgabat, the 24th round of the Turkmenistan Football Championship among the top league clubs kicked off with a match between “Kopetdag” and “Ahal.”

The game took place at the “Kopetdag” Stadium.

Before this encounter, the teams had faced each other three times in the current national championship, and in all those matches, “Ahal” celebrated victory — 4:0, 3:0, and 2:0.

The fourth head-to-head meeting between the rivals also went under the clear advantage of the vice-champion of Turkmenistan, who opened the scoring in the 18th minute thanks to Alibek Abdurahmanov’s effort. Before halftime, “Ahal” captain Elman Tagayev doubled the lead by converting a penalty in the 33rd minute.

In the 47th minute, Orazmuhammet Ishangulyev reduced the deficit to a single goal — 1:2. However, in the 76th minute, E. Tagayev completed his brace, restoring his team’s two-goal advantage — 3:1. The final score — 4:1 in favor of “Ahal” — was set in the 84th minute when “Kopetdag” player Jumamyrat Jumayev scored an own goal.

After this victory, the team of the Main Directorate of “Turkmennebitönümleri” narrowed the gap with “Altyn Asyr” to just one point. “Altyn Asyr,” with 40 points from 22 matches, currently occupies second place, while “Ahal” has played one game fewer.

Thus, the battle for the silver medals is still ahead. The gold medals, as a reminder, went to “Arkadag,” who secured the championship title early for the third time.