Three matches of the 9th round in Mary, Balkanabat and Ashgabat ended the first round of the championship of Turkmenistan on football among major league clubs.
In the administrative center of the Mary velayat, the local "Energetik" hosted the vice-champion of the country "Altyn Asyr", who is desperately fighting for the championship with the successful Arkadag.
Before this fight, the team of the agency "Turkmenaragatnashyk" lagged behind the leader by 10 points. Naturally, this state of affairs could not suit the wards of Yazguly Hojageldiyev, who opened the scoring already in the debut of the meeting. The captain of the team Akhmed Ataev did it in the 5th minute. At the 22nd minute, he scored a double. And on the 37th - Serdar Annamamedov retaliated one goal. Even before the break in the 45th minute, Rahman Muratberdiyev restored the advantage to two goals.
In the second half, the opponents exchanged goals. The guests answered Bayramsahed Sapargylyjov's goal (78th minute) with an accurate shot by Vahit Orazsahedov (90th), and the match ended with a score of 4:2 in favor of Altyn Asyr.
After this victory, the ex-champion of Turkmenistan reduced the gap from the leader with 24 points "Arkadag" to 7 points.
Balkanabat "Nebitchi" moved up to the third position with 16 points, having won at home over Mary "Merv" - 2:0. Goals scored by: Arslangylych Nazgylydzhov (73rd minute from the penalty spot) and Makhtimberdy Berenov (85th). The score in favor of the hosts could have been larger, but in the 4th minute Akmamed Metdaev could not convert a penalty. The winners ended the game in the minority after being sent off in the 89th minute for two yellow cards by Seyitmamed Khodjamamedov.
But "Kopetdag" in the final round of the first round lost in the capital derby "Ashgabat" - 1:2 and missed the chance to gain a foothold in the top three. The winners scored Byashim Gurbanberdyev (58th minute) and Dzhumamurad Dzhumayev (77th), and the losers scored Ovezbay Mukhamedmuradov (68th - from the penalty spot).
After this victory, "Ashgabat" with 12 points came close to the fourth position "Kopetdag", which has 14 points.
The next places are Shagadam (7 points), Energetik (6 points), Merv (5 points) and Akhal (3 points).
The calendar of matches for the 2nd and 3rd rounds of the Turkmenistan Football Championship will be announced later.
