The Arkadag footballers started the Turkmenistan Championship among the clubs of the Higher League with a major victory over the Turkmenbashi Shagadam (4:0), the Turkmenistan: Golden Age publication reports.

The game took place in the "smart" city of Arkadag as part of the 4th round. The current two-time champion of Turkmenistan missed the previous three rounds due to participation in the AFC Challenge League.

The goals for the winners were scored by Ikhlas Saparmamedov (1st minute), Arzuvguli Saparguliyev (15), Didar Durdyev (47) and Begench Akmamedov (60).

Despite the first defeat, Shagadam remained at the top of the tournament table with 7 points, having played 4 matches.

The vice-champion Ahal also suffered its first defeat in the championship, losing to the bronze medalist of last year's national championship Altyn Asyr at the Ashgabat stadium - 0:1. The winning goal for the team of the agency Turkmenaragatnashyk was scored in the 83rd minute by Ruslan Tadzhiev.

After this victory, Altyn Asyr with 6 points rose to second place, ahead of Ahal, which dropped to third place due to the advantage in the personal meeting. Both teams have played 3 matches.

The most productive match in the 4th round was the one held in the Babarap gengeshlik of the Geoktepe etrap of the Ahal velayat between two capital teams Kopetdag and Ashgabat. The opponents scored 5 goals between them. At the same time, three goals flew into the gates of Kopetdag, which, thanks to the efforts of Didar Didarov (32nd minute) and Mezhnun Durdyev (71st), twice came back, but still could not avoid the third defeat in the championship. For Ashgabat, which won its first victory in the current national championship, the following scored: Byashim Gurbanberdyev (25th), Begmurad Pirkuliyev (66th) and Meilis Gayliyev (86th).

Another match of the 4th round in Balkanabat between Nebitchi and Mary Merv was not finished. In the 64th minute, with the score 2:0 in favor of the hosts, the visiting team left the field, and now, in all likelihood, it will be counted as a technical defeat with a result of 0:3.

The 5th round of the 2025 Turkmenistan Football Championship will start on April 2 with the matches Merv vs. Arkadag and Ashgabat vs. Nebitchi, and will end on April 3 with the matches Altyn Asyr vs. Kopetdag and Shagadam vs. Ahal.