We look back at the latest round of the League’s flagship competition.
Four of the six matches ended in draws, three of them by the identical scoreline of 2-2. It was an action-packed weekend of football.
Kairat Concede Twice for the First Time This Season
Already crowned champions, Kairat dropped points in the Almaty derby.
The visitors made a confident start: Yellow-and-Blacks captain Alikhan Zhumabek opened the scoring in the 6th minute, before defender Alikhan Dosanov doubled the advantage in the 38th with his first goal of the season.
However, Zhas Kyran managed to fight back after the break. Substitute Sergey Sharunov scored his eighth goal of the year in the 61st minute, while defender Sultan Abdimanap found the net for the first time this season in the 76th to complete the comeback – 2-2.
For Kairat, this was only their second draw of the campaign and the first match in which they had conceded more than one goal.
It is worth noting that Talgat Kanyshev's side played without their two leading scorers, Daulet Orynbasar and Roman Chernomorets. The latter, along with defender Alikhan Abdi, featured in the victorious U-17 match (4-2), with Chernomorets getting on the scoresheet.
Zhas Kyran thus became only the second team after Ordabasy to take points off the champions. Oleg Trofimov's side have now drawn four consecutive matches and extended their unbeaten run to seven games.
Caspiy Come from Behind Twice Against Shakhter
In Aktau, the Miners took the lead twice but failed to secure all three points. Alen Pak opened the scoring in the 28th minute, taking his tally to four goals in five matches. However, immediately after the break, Caspiy defender Akylbek Karzhaubay scored his first goal of the season to level the score.
The decisive moments came late in the match. In the 87th minute, substitute Artyom Alexeyev restored Shakhter's lead, but just two minutes later, another player off the bench, Caspiy forward Zhandaulet Duisenbayev, equalised to make it 2-2. It was the Aktau striker's second goal of the season, despite having spent just 164 minutes on the pitch in total.
For Shakhter, who have already secured the silver medals, this was their sixth draw of the campaign – all six have come away from home.
Ordabasy Drop Points Again
The Shymkent side are now winless in three consecutive matches after being held by Taraz. The visitors took the lead in the 11th minute when defender Asylan Ablaikhan scored his first goal of the season. Ordabasy responded with two goals before half-time. First, Adilbek Turdakh netted his 14th goal of the campaign – the second-highest tally in the competition behind Daulet Orynbasar – before Dilshod Nazimbekov put the hosts ahead shortly before the break.
However, Galymzhan Orazaliev converted a penalty in the 70th minute to secure a 2-2 draw. Notably, the Taraz defender had also scored against Ordabasy in the reverse fixture.
The result ended Samat Nauryzbayev's side's three-match losing streak, but Taraz still dropped to ninth place after being overtaken by Kaisar. Ordabasy remain third, maintaining their four-point advantage over Tobyl. One victory from their remaining two matches will be enough for the Shymkent side to secure the bronze medals. However, they will face Irtysh next Matchweek without Shyngys Kozhakhmetov, who received his fourth yellow card.
Captain Dzhetenov Rescues Tobyl in Stoppage Time
The clash between two neighbouring teams in the standings remained goalless for almost an hour. It was not until the 59th minute that Aktobe midfielder Ibrahim Bauyrzhanov broke the deadlock, taking his season tally to eight goals and seven assists.
The visitors looked set to claim all three points, but Tobyl captain Ruslan Dzhetenov equalised in the dying moments to make it 1-1.
It was the defender's fourth goal of the season, matching the tally of the Kostanay side's other leading attacking contributors. Notably, Dzhetenov is one of just three players in the competition to have played every one of the season's 1,800 minutes, alongside Aktobe's Akbar Sadenov and Ordabasy's Nurassyl Sheraly.
Both teams extended their unbeaten runs to five matches. Tobyl remain fourth and still have a chance of securing bronze, although they will need to keep collecting points and hope Ordabasy slip up. In the next Matchweek, Oleg Lotov's side will host Zhas Kyran without Nikita Lisokhmar, who received his fourth yellow card.
Aktobe sit fifth with 28 points, ahead of Zhas Kyran on head-to-head results.
KFF Academy Take Revenge on Astana
In the first half of the season, Astana thrashed KFF Academy 4-0 at home. In Talgar, Yuriy Markhel's side returned the favour with an identical result.
The hosts took the lead in the very first minute through captain and defender Daniyar Kasi. Sultan Daurenov doubled the advantage in the 21st minute, before Askhat Dutpayev and the team's leading scorer Radmir Khizmetov (six goals) completed the rout in the second half. Goalkeeper Mirdier Mirakhmatov kept a clean sheet, while Khizmetov contributed two assists in addition to his goal.
KFF Academy remain seventh, but the gap to Aktobe and Zhas Kyran has narrowed to just two points. In the next Matchweek, they will travel to Aktobe to face the Red-and-Whites.
Astana, meanwhile, have now gone 11 consecutive matches without a win. Their last victory came against KFF Academy in the reverse fixture. The capital side will face Kaisar without midfielder Haydar Togimov, who received his fourth yellow card.
Kaisar Overtake Taraz
The Kyzylorda side claimed their second consecutive victory, edging Irtysh 1-0. Sultanali Umirtai scored the only goal of the match in the 50th minute.
The win lifted the Wolves to eighth place, one point ahead of Taraz.
Irtysh remain 11th with 15 points, sitting above Caspiy thanks to their victory in the head-to-head encounter. Next Matchweek, Vitaliy Chursin's side will host Ordabasy in Pavlodar.
Top scorer after Matchweek 20: Daulet Orynbasar (Kairat, 20 goals).
Top assist provider after Matchweek 20: Ayan Amanzhulov (Aktobe, 9 assists).
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