The central match of the 29th round of the 2026 Kazakhstan Premier League (KPL) ended in a 1:1 draw. Had Ordabasy defeated the Astana side, they would have become champions of Kazakhstan in football with one round to go. It would have been their second title. The club won its first title in 2023. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Tickets for the Ordabasy – Zhenis match sold out in an instant. It seemed nothing would prevent the Shymkent team from officially securing the championship in a match against a mid-table side. To do so, Andrey Martin's charges simply needed to win. Any other result would postpone the resolution of the golden task.

The Astana team no longer needs anything in the current tournament. The European competition zone is out of reach, and the team secured itself from the relegation zone long ago. Additionally, Islambek Kuat left the team after failing to find common ground with the management.

Head coach Vladimir Sliskovic announced two days before the round that he was ending his work with Zhenis for "personal" reasons. Judging by the fact that his assistants Omer Joldic and Mladen Cuckovic left the club along with the Bosnian specialist, the reasons were not so "personal."

The club appointed Anton Chichulin as interim head coach. A well-known former footballer who had worked in Zhenis's coaching staff. The new coach's charges took to the field in Shymkent without a trace of timidity. And they nearly pulled off a sensation.

After finishing the first half in a 0:0 draw, the Astana side took the lead early in the second half. A cross from Brazilian Adilio from the right flank of the attack was turned into his own net by Shymkent's Cameroonian player Guy-Marcelin Kilama.

The situation for the hosts became extremely complicated in the 66th minute when Jasulan Amir left the field after receiving a second yellow card. However, Ordabasy, even with ten men, continued to storm Vladimir Plotnikov's goal. In the 70th minute, Elkhan Astanov equalized – 1:1. The result held until the final whistle.

Thus, before tomorrow's match Aktobe – Kairat, the Shymkent side leads the Almaty team by 5 points. Only a victory will keep Rafael Urazbakhtin's charges, who faltered in European competitions on Thursday, in the golden race.

⚽ ORDABASY (Shymkent) – ZHENIS (Astana) 1:1 (0:0). Goals: Kilama 46 own goal (0:1), E. Astanov 70 (1:1). Sent off: Amir 66, Maly (after the match) (both – O)

⚽ OKZHETPES (Kokshetau) – CASPIY (Aktau) 3:0 (1:0). Goals: Kuzmichev 9, Vasiliev 54, Nurgaliev 83 penalty

⚽ ZHETISU (Taldykorgan) – TOBOL (Kostanay) 1:1 (1:0). Goals: Baltabekov 14 (1:0), Talal 70 (1:1)

⚽ KYZYLZHAR (Petropavlovsk) – ULYTAU (Zhezkazgan) 1:0 (1:0). Goal: Baoken 41

Okzhetpes, continuing the bronze race with Astana, defeated Caspiy in Kokshetau – 3:0. Zhetisu, failing to hold on to a victory over Tobol, significantly reduced its chances in the fight for survival.

The 29th round will conclude tomorrow with the matches Aktobe – Kairat, Astana – Kaisar, Altai – Elimai, and Atyrau – Irtysh.