Turkmenistan began their AFC Asian Cup qualifying campaign with a crucial 2-1 comeback victory over Chinese Taipei on March 25, 2025. After falling behind early, the visitors showed great character to score twice in the second half and secure a vital three points on the road in Group B. Chinese Taipei took a surprise lead in the first half, capitalizing on a defensive error to score. However, Turkmenistan regrouped at halftime and equalized through a penalty early in the second period. The winner came with fifteen minutes remaining, a powerful strike from outside the box that gave the Taiwanese goalkeeper no chance. The result immediately put Turkmenistan in a strong position in the qualifying group, while Chinese Taipei was left to reflect on a missed opportunity after a promising start. The Turkmenistan manager praised his team's mentality, and the Chinese Taipei coach highlighted the small margins that decided the match.