Football club “Ahal” have returned to second place in the Turkmenistan Higher League standings following the matches of the 17th round. A significant factor behind the change in the standings was the league leaders, “Arkadag,” who secured an emphatic 5–2 victory over “Altyn Asyr” at the Sport Toplumy stadium in the capital’s Buzmeyin etrap.
The star of the match was Didar Durdyyev, who scored a hat-trick in the 11th, 34th and 39th minutes. The three-time reigning champions of Turkmenistan then sealed their victory with goals from Ahmet Atayev in the 60th minute and Shanazar Tirkishov in the 82nd. “Altyn Asyr’s” goals were scored by Begenchmyrat Myradov in the 33rd minute and Begmyrat Bayov, who converted a penalty in the 58th minute.
Taking advantage of their rival’s slip-up, “Ahal” comfortably defeated “Merv” 4–0 at the Nisa Stadium in Ashgabat. The home side’s goals were scored by Suleyman Mirzoyev in the 54th minute, Magtymberdi Berenov in the 77th, and Byashim Gurbanberdiyev, who scored twice in the 85th minute and in stoppage time at 90+3. Following the victory, “Ahal” moved to 36 points, while “Altyn Asyr,” with 35 points, dropped to third place in the standings.
In the other matches of the round, “Nebitchi” and “Ashgabat” played to a 1–1 draw at the Sport Toplumy stadium in Balkanabat. The visitors took the lead in the 40th minute through Merdan Mukhadov, but the hosts restored parity early in the second half, with Serdar Tukiyev scoring in the 49th minute. The draw allowed “Nebitchi” to remain in fourth place with 18 points, while “Ashgabat” moved level with “Merv” on 14 points, with the two clubs sharing sixth and seventh places.
An entertaining match took place in Turkmenbashi, where local side “Shagadam” came from behind to defeat “Kopetdag” 3–2 and move up to fifth place with 16 points. The capital club took the lead twice during the match. First, they went 1–0 up through Arslan Saparov in the 8th minute, and later restored their lead to 2–1 through Batyr Ashyrov. However, “Shagadam” showed great character: Elyas Akiev scored in first-half stoppage time at 45+3, Yagshysakhet Dovletgeldiyev equalised in the 76th minute, and Ykhlas Magtymov scored the winning goal in the 88th minute.
Having suffered their 12th defeat of the championship, “Kopetdag” remain at the bottom of the standings with 11 points.
With his hat-trick in this round, Didar Durdyyev of “Arkadag” further strengthened his lead in the goal scoring race. The leading scorer of the last four national championships now has 17 goals, including three from penalties. Suleyman Mirzoyev of “Ahal” is second with nine goals, two of them from the penalty spot. Third place is shared by Rovshengeldi Halmamedov of “Altyn Asyr” and Arslan Saparov of “Kopetdag,” with eight goals each. Saparov has scored once from a penalty.
