Playing a 1-1 draw with Atyrau in Almaty, the national champion lost more points and remained second in the KPL-2026 standings. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

After a break due to international matches, the Kazakhstan Premier League 2026 resumed. Kairat, who had lost the lead to Ordabasy before the break, could have returned to the top of the table at least until tomorrow. To do so, Rafael Urazbakhtin's team needed to beat Atyrau at home.

Round 13, June 13... Unsurprisingly, Kairat's number 13, Jaakko Oksanen, scored in the 13th minute. Playing a one-two with Portuguese player Jorginho, the Finn struck from the edge of the box and placed the ball into the corner of Belarusian goalkeeper Yegor Khatkevich's net.

Vladimir Cheburin's team did not have a player with the unlucky number on his jersey. The visitors were helped by Almaty's goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov. Having made several non-costly errors during the match, the national team goalkeeper added a costly one in the 69th minute. Aidar Abdulla robbed the hesitant goalkeeper and equalized.

Kairat tried to take the lead again. Among others, the coaching staff sent new signing Mark Gual into battle. The 30-year-old Spanish striker, who had recently played for Portuguese side Rio Ave, tried hard but could not help his new team – 1-1.

⚽ TOBOL (Kostanay) – KYZYLZHAR (Petropavlovsk) 2-0 (0-0). Goals: Milovanovic 54 (1-0), Zuev 57 (2-0)

⚽ ZHETYSU (Taldykorgan) – OKZHETPES 2-2 (0-0). Goals: Anuarbekov 49 (1-0), Omirtayev 58 (1-1), Jovanovic 69 (2-1), Omirtayev 73 (2-2).

⚽ KAIRAT (Almaty) – ATYRAU 1-1 (1-0). Goals: Oksanen 13 (1-0), Abdulla 69 (1-1)

The break apparently benefited Tobol. Miroslav Romashchenko's charges, who replaced Nurbol Zhumaskaliyev at the helm of the Kostanay side, ended a three-match winless streak. By beating Kyzylzhar 2-0 at home, the Kazakhstan Cup and Super Cup winner left the penultimate place, which did not match its status. The result was secured within four minutes by Serbian Uros Milovanovic and ex-Russian Alexander Zuev, who did not establish himself in the Kazakhstan national team.

A brace from another former national team player, Oralkhan Omirtayev, saved Okzhetpes from an away defeat in Taldykorgan. The Kokshetau player twice paid back with the same coin for goals by Nurbol Anuarbekov and Serbian Strahinja Jovanovic – 2-2.

Round 13 will conclude on June 14 with matches: Ulytau – Zhenis, Elimai – Ordabasy, Kaspiy – Kaisar, and Aktobe – Altai.