The football players of the Ashgabat’s team «Altyn Asyr» defended the title of champion of Turkmenistan. Such success the team of «Turkmemnaragatnashhyk» Agency reached ahead of time, two rounds before the end of the national championship after the nearest pursuer of «Ahal» failed to score two points in the home game against «Kopetdag» – 2:2, and «Altyn Asyr» at home beat «Ashgabat» – 4:0.
The match in the «Sport toplumy» stadium in Buzmeyin etrap of the capital took place with significant advantage of the finalist of 2018 AFC Cup finalist. In the 2nd minute Selim Atayev took «Altyn Asyr» into the lead – 1:0. In eleven minutes Rahman Muratberdyev doubled the lead.
In the second half, the home team continued to attack and scored two more goals into the opponent's goal. First a goal was scored by Merdan Muhadov in the 50th minute, and in 10 minutes Begenchmurat Muradov scored the fourth goal to the gate of «Ashgabat».
Benefit of «Altyn Asyr» could be greater. But in the 68th minute Berdymurad Rejepov didn’t converted penalty.
Thus, winning the national championship, «Altyn Asyr» earned the right to represent Turkmenistan in 2022 in the AFC Champions League.
«Altyn Asyr» has been playing in the country championship since 2008, and becomes the champion for the eighth time in a row. The 45-aged honored coach of Turkmenistan Yazkuli Hojageldyev lead the five-time Turkmenistan Cup winner and seven-time country Super Cup winner to this success.
«Ahal, with 23 points after 12 rounds, and «Shagadam» from Turkmenbashi, with 20 points qualify for silver medals.
«Ahal» in match with «Kopetdag», playing with numerical advantage beginning from 69 minute due to excluding of Elyas Akyev, only in the seventh minute compensated by the second half, escaped defeat thanks to an own goal of Bahtiyar Gurgenov. It is noteworthy that a little earlier one more own goal in this match was scored in the 80th minute by the defender of «Ahal» Shohrat Soyunov. Prior to this episode excelled Yazklych Kurbanov (39th minute) from «Kopetdag» and Meylis Diniyev (47th minute) from «Ahal».
«Shagadam» won a hard victory in this round in Mary city over the closing the standings «Energetik» – 3:2. Kerim Hojaberdyev (14th and 60th minute) scored a double for the winners, one more goal in the account of Mekan Ashirov (18th minute – сfrom penalty). And in the losing team – Tirkish Muhametberdyev (26th minute) and Orazgeldy Seyidov (63rd minute).
In this round, «Merv» lagging behind the top three by 4 points, due to the effrost of Kemal Annamuhamedov (6th minute) and Pirmuhamed Gazakov (47th minute) took over at away match over Balkanabat’s «Nebitchi» – 2:0.
The matches of the 13th round of the Turkmenistan Football Championship will be held on 16 December. On this day will play: «Ashgabat» – «Ahal», «Kopetdag» – «Shagadam», «Nebitchi» – «Energetik» and «Merv» – «Altyn Asyr».
The Turkmenistan Football Championship finishes on 19 December.
