The footballers of "Ahal" made a step towards the semifinals of the Turkmenistan Cup by defeating "Kopetdag" 2-1 in the first home quarterfinal match.

The game took place at the "Nisa" stadium in the capital.

"Kopetdag" took the lead in the 3rd minute with a precise shot by Shiri Annaev. In the 20th minute, Meylis Diniev equalized the score to 1-1. In the 71st minute, "Ahal" captain Elman Tagayev scored a decisive goal from a penalty kick, securing a comeback victory for his team.

The team coached by Velsakhet Ovezov could have achieved a more comfortable score before the return quarterfinal match. However, in the last of the four added minutes in the second half, Meylis Diniev missed a penalty. Batyr Geldiyev, visiting team's goalkeeper, saved the penalty in the style of former Russian national team goalkeeper Igor Akinfeev, deflecting the shot with his foot.

This is already the second victory for "Ahal" under the leadership of the new head coach after the previous coach, Dovletmyrat Annaev, took charge of the Turkmenistan youth team (under 20) to prepare for the qualifying games of the 2025 Asian Cup. Earlier, V. Ovezov's team defeated "Ashgabat" 3-0 in the opening match of the third round of the Turkmenistan Football Championship.

The return leg of the quarterfinal will take place on September 8 at "Kopetdag's" field.

In other first quarterfinal matches of the 2024 Turkmenistan Cup, "Arkadag" defeated Turkmenbashi's "Shagadam" 3-0 at the "Nisa" stadium, "Altyn Asyr" won against "Merv" 3-1 on their home field, and "Ashgabat" beat Balkanabat's "Nebitchi" 2-1 away.