“Arkadag” footballers defeated Mary's “Merv” 7-1 in the first round of the Turkmenistan Premier League. The match took place in Ashgabat.

The winning team's goals were scored by Rakhman Muratberdyev (21st minute), Resul Hojayev (25, 72), Ilyas Charyev (40), Ihlas Toyjanov (52), Bayram Atayev (58), and Didar Durdyev (63). Abdyresul Abdyev scored the only goal for “Merv” in the 78th minute.

The match was “Merv's” first under head coach Rahmanguly Bayliyev, who took over the team before the start of the new season.

In the last season of the Major League, Arkadag won the Turkmenistan championship for the third time in a row. “Merv” finished eighth, the last place in the table.

In the next round, “Arkadag” will face “Ahal” at home on April 12. Merv will play a home match against “Nebitchi” the day before, on April 11.