Almaty's Kairat, having beaten Pavlodar's Irtysh 5-0, continue their golden race in the 2026 Kazakhstan Premier League. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

In the clash of two five-time champions, the balance of power was too uneven. Kairat were already leading by a large margin by the 35th minute. Spaniard Marc Gual scored a brace from Edmilson's assists. In between, the Brazilian himself found the net, capitalizing on a gross error by Pavlodar goalkeeper Miras Rikhard.

After the break, Bogdan Sarnavsky replaced Rikhard in goal. That did not prevent Gual from completing his first hat-trick for Kairat, while Azamat Tuyakbayev scored his third goal of the 2026 KPL season.

The big win kept Kairat in the golden race. However, a four-point gap behind Ordabasy with two rounds remaining is difficult to overcome. The Shymkent side, who won in Aktobe on Saturday, are one step away from the title. If Andrei Martin's team beats Zhenis at their home stadium on October 24, they will become two-time champions of Kazakhstan regardless of other results.

⚽ KAIRAT (Almaty) – IRTYSH (Pavlodar) 5:0 (3:0). Goals: Gual 15 (1:0), Edmilson 16 (2:0), Gual 34 (3:0), Gual 74 (4:0), Tuyakbayev 83 (5:0)

⚽ YELIMAI (Semey) – ULYTAU (Zhezkazgan) 2:1 (1:0). Goals: Murillo 32 penalty (1:0), China 49 (2:0), Bukhal 90+3 (2:1). Tanasijevic sent off (Y, 83)

⚽ ALTAI (Ust-Kamenogorsk) – ATYRAU 1:1 (1:0). Goals: Dadayev 33 (1:0), Micevic 90+2 own goal (1:1). Popov sent off (Al, 80)

⚽ ASTANA – CASPIY (Aktau) 2:2 (1:2). Goals: Epton 23 (0:1), Tomasov 26 (1:1), Silla 35 (1:2), Aripov 68 own goal (2:2)

⚽ OKZHETPES (Kokshetau) – KYZYLZHAR (Petropavlovsk) 1:0 (0:0). Goal: Vasilyev 60

⚽ ZHETYSU (Taldykorgan) – KAISAR (Kyzylorda) 2:1 (0:1). Goals: Moses 11 (0:1), Abzalov 71 (1:1), Nurbol 76 (2:1)

⚽ TOBOL (Kostanay) – ZHENIS (Astana) 4:2 (3:2). Goals: Kpozo 6 (0:1), Tursynbay 12 own goal (1:1), Lisakovich 18 (2:1), Tagybergen 33 penalty (3:1), Filipovic 38 (3:2), Zhumashev 59 penalty (4:2)

⚽ AKTOBE – ORDABASY (Shymkent) 1:3 (1:0). Goals: Sosa 21 (1:0), Natel 47 (1:1), Malyi 53 (1:2), Keita 77 (1:3)

Astana twice fell behind at home to Caspiy but equalized on both occasions. The 2:2 draw at Astana Arena suited both teams. The capital club took another step toward bronze, while the Aktau side will not drop below tenth place in the championship.

Matches of the 29th (penultimate) round of the 2026 KPL are scheduled for next weekend. On October 24, Ordabasy – Zhenis, Okzhetpes – Caspiy, Zhetysu – Tobol and Kyzylzhar – Ulytau will play. On the 25th, the round will conclude with Aktobe – Kairat, Astana – Kaisar, Altai – Yelimai and Atyrau – Irtysh.