The capital's "Altyn Asyr" and the Turkmenbashi-based "Shagadam" successfully started in the Turkmenistan Football Championship. The team of the "Turkmenaragatnashyk" agency defeated "Ashgabat" 1:0 in the capital derby, while the club from the Caspian coast won over the Mary-based "Merv" with the same score.

The match between "Altyn Asyr" and "Ashgabat" took place at the "Sport Toplumy" stadium in Buzmein etrap of the capital. In the 24th minute, the hosts were left with a man down due to the expulsion of Shokhrat Soyunov. However, the guests failed to capitalize on their numerical advantage. Moreover, in the 79th minute, after a shot by Zafar Babajanov, they conceded a goal, which they could not recover from in the remaining time.

In the match between "Shagadam" and "Merv", which was held at the "Sport Toplumy" stadium in Balkanabat, the fate of the encounter was decided by a goal scored by Hydyrgeldi Atajanov in the 13th minute.

After these victories, "Altyn Asyr" and "Shagadam" tied in points with the leading "Ahal", which had previously defeated the Balkanabat-based "Nebitchi" 2:0 at home. The final match of the first round between "Arkadag" and "Kopetdag" was postponed to a reserve day due to the preparation of the country's reigning champion for the upcoming March 12 home return quarterfinal match of the AFC Challenge League against the Indian "East Bengal". Recall that the first game between these teams in Calcutta ended with "Arkadag" winning 1:0.

The second round of the national football championship will start on March 10 with the matches "Ashgabat" – "Shagadam" and "Nebitchi" – "Altyn Asyr" and will continue on March 11 with the match between "Kopetdag" and "Merv".