We look back at the key moments from the latest matches in the girls’ competition.
Kairat hit ten again
The Yellow-Blacks recorded their third consecutive victory with a double-digit goal tally, this time thrashing Ordabasy 10–1.
Zhaniya Makhash opened the scoring as early as the 3rd minute, while the decisive spell came between the 32nd and 39th minutes. In the space of eight minutes, Oksana Nikitchenko, Milena Nikolenko, Sofia Yagudina and Aiya Muttari all found the net. Kairat went into the break 5–0 up.
Moldir Bakirova and Aiym Kurmash also scored in the second half, while Nikolenko and Yagudina both added their second goals of the match. Another Kairat goal came courtesy of an own goal by Merei Ryskulova. The visitors managed just one reply through Aruna Nasirali in the 65th minute – the forward’s sixth goal of the season.
Kairat have now scored 51 goals in eight matches, but still remain second in the standings.
Astana stay top
The only team to have beaten Kairat also won their match, although in a very different fashion. Astana defeated Tobyl 2–0 in Kostanay, with both goals coming after the break.
Alziya Zhambyl broke the deadlock in the 58th minute before defender Ainель Smanova sealed the result in the 83rd. Zhibek Marat provided both assists.
The capital side remain top of the table with 22 points from seven wins and one draw. Astana also boast the best defensive record in the competition, having conceded just six goals.
Kairat trail by one point, with the biggest intrigue still to come – it increasingly looks as though the title could be decided by the derby between the two capitals. Tobyl, meanwhile, sit fifth with eight points.
Kryshkina brace earns Shakhter victory
Shakhter defeated Kaisar 4–1 on home soil in Karaganda.
Just as in Kostanay, the first half ended goalless. After the break, however, Sabina Kryshkina struck twice, scoring in the 48th and 56th minutes. They were her first goals of the season.
The visitors pulled one back in the 63rd minute through Madina Amantai, but just two minutes later Zailin Yersain restored Shakhter’s two-goal advantage. Defender Dariya Tulegenova then completed the scoring in the 76th minute.
Shakhter move onto 11 points and are now right on the heels of third place. Kaisar, meanwhile, suffered their seventh defeat in eight Matchweeks. They remain on three points, with five goals scored and 37 conceded – both the worst figures in the league.
Drama in Pavlodar
The most dramatic finish of the Matchweek came at Zhuldyz Stadium, where Irtysh hosted Aktobe and snatched a 2–1 victory.
Anastasiya Gordeyeva opened the scoring in first-half stoppage time, but Aizhan Yesirkepova equalised in the 61st minute. A draw looked likely, only for Dilyara Kapanova to score the winner in the dying moments of the match.
It was only Irtysh’s second victory of the season, but an important one as the Pavlodar side moved level with Ordabasy on seven points. Aktobe missed the chance to pull away from their pursuers and remain third with 11 points, ahead of Shakhter only on tiebreakers.
Top scorer after Matchweek 8: Milena Nikolenko (Kairat, 13 goals).
Top assist provider after Matchweek 8: Zhaniya Makhash (Kairat, 9 assists).
