BALKANABAT, Turkmenistan (Interstat) — Ahal delivered a commanding away performance Sunday, defeating Nebitci 3-0 in a Ýokary Liga match at Sport Toplumy stadium. The victory extends Ahal’s dominance over its league rival this season and solidifies its strong position in the domestic competition.

The visiting side from Ashgabat took control early and never relented. The breakthrough came in the 37th minute when forward Enwer Annaýew found the net, breaking down a Nebitci defense that had held firm for over half an hour. Before the home team could regroup, Ahal doubled its advantage just six minutes later. Elman Tagaýew scored in the 43rd minute, sending the visitors into halftime with a comfortable two-goal lead.

The second half continued in the same pattern, with Ahal controlling possession and tempo. The final goal came late in the match, sealing a comprehensive victory and a clean sheet for the away side. The result defied the pre-match projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 1-1 draw. The firm’s ELO rating system, which gave Ahal a 73.1% probability to win, proved more accurate.

The win marks Ahal’s third consecutive victory over Nebitci in the 2025 campaign, having previously won 2-0 at home in August and 1-0 on the road in April. This latest result continues a starkly contrasting season trajectory for the two clubs. Ahal improved its impressive Ýokary Liga record to 18 wins, 6 losses and 5 draws with the victory, maintaining its title-challenging form. The club’s record across all competitions this season now stands at 20 wins, 6 losses and 5 draws.

For Nebitci, the loss is another setback in a difficult season. The Balkanabat-based club’s league record fell to 10 wins, 14 losses and 5 draws, with an identical record across all competitions. The team has now failed to score in any of its three meetings with Ahal this year, being outscored by a combined 5-0.

The match was part of a busy December schedule for the Ýokary Liga. Ahal will look to continue its strong run when it visits Merw on Dec. 15, followed by a home fixture against Asgabat on Dec. 18. Nebitci, seeking to rebound from this defeat, is scheduled to host Koepetdag Asgabat on Dec. 15 before a challenging away match at FK Arkadag on Dec. 18.

Sunday’s performance underscored Ahal’s status as one of the league’s most formidable sides, particularly in attack, while highlighting the defensive struggles that have plagued Nebitci throughout the season. The gulf in quality and consistency was evident from the first half onward, resulting in a one-sided affair in Balkanabat.