Al Nassr Club claimed a narrow 1-0 victory against FK Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ Round of 16 first leg, played on Wednesday at the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.
Al Nassr Club claimed a narrow 1-0 victory against FK Arkadag in the AFC Champions League Two 2025/26™ Round of 16 first leg, played on Wednesday at the Ashgabat Olympic Stadium.
Although the Saudi side controlled most phases of the contest, they left Turkmenistan with only a one-goal cushion ahead of the decisive return match in Riyadh next week.
The breakthrough came before the interval, with Abdullah Al Hamddan’s composed finish ultimately separating the two teams on the night.
Al Nassr began with intent and came close to opening the scoring in the 11th minute, when Aiman Yahya’s effort took a deflection and struck the left post, forcing Guychmyrat Annagulyyew to intervene and clear the danger.
The visitors eventually found a way through eight minutes later. Angelo slipped a precise pass behind the defence, allowing Al Hamddan to slot the ball beyond goalkeeper Rasul Caryyew.
As the first half progressed, Al Nassr continued to threaten. Shortly before the break, Al Hamddan tested Caryyew again, with the keeper reacting quickly to push away a low attempt.
After the restart, Arkadag remained under sustained pressure, relying heavily on Caryyew to keep the scoreline respectable.
The goalkeeper produced another crucial stop in the 57th minute, denying Al Hamddan from close range as Al Nassr searched for a second goal.
Arkadag head coach Mergen Orazov responded by bringing on Ahmet Atayew, Dayanc Meredow, and Rahman Myratberdiyew in an effort to change the flow of the match.
Despite the substitutions, the hosts were unable to unsettle the visitors, who managed the closing stages calmly to preserve their advantage.
Al Nassr head coach Jorge Jesus rotated his lineup heavily, making eight alterations from the team that defeated Al Ittihad in the Saudi Pro League over the weekend.
For Arkadag, Mekan Saparov led the side as they focused on containment for long stretches of the encounter.
With the first leg completed, Al Nassr returns home holding a slender lead, while Arkadag faces a challenging task in the upcoming second leg in Riyadh.
