In the group tournament of the 2019 IIHF World Championship Division III in Sofia, the national team of Turkmenistan today won their first victory, beating the South African team - 7:2, the official IIHF website reports.

The match took place in the capital of Bulgaria on the ice arena of the sports complex Winter Palace.

In the first period in the 2nd minute, Baymurad Baymuradov and the captain of the national team of Turkmenistan Ahmed Gurbanov excelled. In the second period, on the 26th minute, Alexander Vahovskiy scored the puck, and on the 27th minute - Amangeldy Aganiyazov brought the score to crushing - 4: 0. At the 39th minute, Baimurad Baymuradov scored a double - 5: 0. At the same moment, South African hockey player Andre Marais  reduced the backlog - 5: 1.

In the third period, at the 48th minute, Marc Giot scored the second goal in the gate of the Turkmenistan national team - 2:5. On the 57th - Baymurad Baymuradov designed a hat-trick - 6: 2. At the last minute of the third period, Alexander Vahovskiy set the final score in the game - 7:2. Baymurad Baymuradov was recognized as the best player of the match.

After this victory, considering the outcome of yesterday's game with the national team of Taiwan, Turkmen hockey players earned 4 points.

Tomorrow the national team of Turkmenistan is waiting for a one-day break, and already on April 25 Bayram Allayarov wards will play with the hosts of the tournament - the Bulgarian national team.

Calendar of upcoming games of the national team of Turkmenistan in the 2019 IIHF World Championship Division III (Sofia time):

• 04/25/2019 8:00 PM: Bulgaria - Turkmenistan
• 04/26/2019 4:30 PM: Turkmenistan - Luxembourg
• 04/28/2019 1:00 PM: Turkey - Turkmenistan