Portuguese forward Luís Carlos Almeida da Cunha, known as Nani, scored his first goal in the Kazakhstan Premier League 2026 in a match between Aktobe and Astana. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

In the 14th round of the Kazakhstan Premier League, Aktobe defeated Astana 2-0, moving up to fifth place in the standings. Nani had previously scored in the Kazakhstan Cup but had not found the net in the league until this evening. The former Manchester United star needed 14 matches to open his goal account in the KPL. In the 22nd minute of the match against Astana, the Portuguese headed the ball into the net from a cross from the right flank, beating goalkeeper Josip Čondrić.

The victory was sealed in the 55th minute by Argentine Agustín Pastoriza, securing an important win for the team coached by Slovak Štefan Tarkovič. This marked Aktobe's first entry into the top five of the championship this season.

Results of other matches:

⚽ OKZHETPES (Kokshetau) – TOBOL (Kostanay) 2:1 (0:1). Goals: Vukčević 10 (0:1), Mukhametkhanov 48 (1:1), Mukhametkhanov 65 (2:1). Red card: Ndiaye (T, 38)

⚽ KYZYLZHAR (Petropavlovsk) – KAIRAT (Almaty) 2:4 (2:2). Goals: Oksanen 9 (0:1), Gual 13 (0:2), Baoken 22 (1:2), Begré 39 (2:2), Jorginho 78 pen (2:3), Luís Mata 90+2 (2:4). Red card: Kerimzhanov (K, 77)

⚽ ELIMAI (Semey) – ATYRAU 1:2 (1:2). Goals: Devens 18 (0:1), Murtazayev 22 (1:1), Tkachenko 40 (1:2)

⚽ AKTOBE – ASTANA 2:0 (1:0). Goals: Nani 22 (1:0), Pastoriza 55 (2:0)

⚽ ALTAI (Ust-Kamenogorsk) – ZHETYSU (Taldykorgan) 3:3 (0:2). Goals: Baltabekov 8 (0:1), Pajović 13 (0:2), Stojsavljević 59 (1:2), Anuarbekov 64 (1:3), Lobzhanidze 79 (2:3), Mitrofanov 83 (3:3). Red card: Kenzhegulov (A, 90+1)

⚽ KAISAR (Kyzylorda) – ULYTAU (Zhezkazgan) 0:0

⚽ ORDABASY (Shymkent) – CASPIY (Aktau) 2:0 (1:0). Goals: Léo Natel 23 (1:0), Everton 46 (2:0)

Kairat, having warmly bid farewell to Dastan Satpayev, continues its pursuit of Ordabasy. In search of an optimal lineup, the Almaty side faced difficulties in Petropavlovsk. Kyzylzhar, who had lost to the champion in Almaty in a rescheduled 17th-round match midweek, came back from two goals down in the first half of the home game. Goals from Finnish player Jaakko Oksanen and new signing Mark Gual (the 30-year-old Spaniard, like Nani, opened his goal account in the KPL) were answered by Cameroonian-French Stéphane Baoken and Ivorian Étienne Begré – 2-2.

In the closing stages, Kairat's Portuguese players Jorginho and Luís Mata each scored a goal, saluting their compatriot from Aktobe. The key moment of the match was the sending-off of Petropavlovsk's Olzhas Kerimzhanov for a second yellow card and a penalty awarded by Denis Tevyashov after a VAR review.

The 15th round of the KPL-2026, the last of the first half, is split over two matchdays. On Saturday, June 27, Okzhetpes will host Kairat, Zhetysu will face Aktobe, Elimai will play Kyzylzhar, and Caspiy will take on Atyrau. Sunday's matches include Ulytau vs. Ordabasy, Irtysh vs. Kaisar, Tobol vs. Altai, and Zhenis vs. Astana.