“Arkadag” football club striker Didar Durdyev is in excellent form heading into the AFC Champions League 2 preliminary round match against Indian FC “Goa”. Last week, the footballer strengthened his lead in the scoring race, scoring in a 7-0 win over “Merv”. He now has 13 goals, making him the sole top scorer in the Turkmenistan Championship. “Ahal” forward Suleiman Mirzoyev is second with eight goals.

Durdyev contributed to his team's crushing victory in the 15th round: “Arkadag” defeated “Merv” 7-0 at the “Nisa” Stadium in the capital. In addition to Durdyev's goal in the 40th minute, the winners also scored through Shamammet Hydyrov (35th minute), Meylis Diniev, who scored twice (62nd and 66th minutes), Bayram Atayev (77th minute), Arzuvguly Sapargulyev (82nd minute), and Ihlas Toyjanov (87th minute).

In the other match of the round, “Ahal” defeated Moscow's “Kopetdag” 3-0. The match also took place at “Nisa” Stadium. Suleyman Mirzoyev scored twice (in the 11th and 16th minutes), with Yakupmuhammet Govshudov setting the final score in the 82nd minute.

The capital's derby between “Altyn Asyr” and “Ashgabat” resulted in a 2-1 victory for the home team. The visitors opened the scoring in the 15th minute through Agageldy Tachmammedov, but “Altyn Asyr” bounced back with a goal from Rovshen Halmammedov (53rd minute) and snatched victory in the 90th minute through Zafar Babajanov.

The only draw of the round occurred in the Balkan derby in Turkmenbashy: “Shagadam” and “Nebitchi” drew 1-1. “Shagadam” took the lead immediately after the break (46th minute, Serdar Gulyev), and “Nebitchi” equalized in stoppage time (90+3rd minute, Serdar Tukiev). After this goal, “Nebitchi” was left with ten men: Muhammet Annayev was sent off.

Following the 15th round, “Arkadag” maintains a confident lead in the championship, having won 15 games in a row and earned a maximum of 45 points. “Ahal” is in second place with 33 points, and “Altyn Asyr” is third with 32 points. “Merv” and “Nebitchi” share fourth and fifth place (both with 14 points), while “Shagadam” is in sixth place with 13 points.

On August 12, “Arkadag” will host Indian side FC Goa in the AFC Champions League 2 preliminary round. The match kicks off at 20:00 local time at “Arkadag” Stadium. Admission is free.

According to the tournament regulations, the winner of the match will receive a ticket to the group stage of the AFC Champions League 2, and the losing team will continue the international season in the group stage of the AFC Challenge League.