Almaty's Kairat, winning away against Okzhetpes, returned to the top of the Kazakhstan Premier League 2026, at least until tomorrow's match between Ulytau and Ordabasy. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Apparently, the champions' crisis is behind them. After a four-match winless streak, Rafael Urazbakhtin's team secured their third consecutive victory. This is timely, given the upcoming Champions League qualification.

The match in Kokshetau was anticipated with interest. The Blue-and-Whites, the main discovery of the current tournament, finish the first round in third place. Until this evening, Rinat Aluetov's team had lost only once: on April 18 in Shymkent to Ordabasy 1-2.

⚽ OKZHETPES (Kokshetau) – KAIRAT (Almaty) 1:3 (0:0). Goals: Yukkola 15 (0:1), Abdumannanov 23 (1:1), Afriko 57 (1:2), Edmilson 90+5 (1:3)

⚽ ZHETYSU (Taldykorgan) – AKTOBE 1:0 (0:0). Goal: Baltabekov 45

⚽ YELIMAI (Semey) – KYZYLZHAR (Petropavlovsk) 2:0 (0:0). Goals: Orazov 61 (1:0), Placca 80 (2:0)

⚽ CASPIY (Aktau) – ATYRAU 2:0 (2:0). Goals: Sedko 8 (1:0), Serikbay 16 (2:0)

The champions opened the scoring in the 15th minute. Finn Oiva Yukkola, receiving an excellent through pass from Spanish newcomer Marc Gual, beat Russian goalkeeper Miroslav Lobantsev in close combat – 1:0.

The Blue-and-Whites soon equalized. Temirlan Anarbekov failed to react in time after Uzbek forward Bektemir Abdumannanov's close-range shot – 1:1.

After the break, Brazilian defender Lucas Afriko, finishing a pass from Yerkin Tapalov, scored his first goal for Kairat – 2:1. The result was sealed by Afriko's compatriot Edmilson, who received an assist from Ismail Bekbolat. Notably, the captain of Kazakhstan's U-19 national team scored for Kairat-Zhas in the First League two days ago. Today, replacing Gual in the 89th minute, he contributed to a goal in the KPL.

Zhetysu in Taldykorgan ended Aktobe's six-match unbeaten streak – 1:0. The winning goal was scored by Askhat Baltabekov just before halftime.

Yelimai, thanks to goals by Ramazan Orazov and Togolese-Belgian Eloge Mame Placca Fessou, defeated Kyzylzhar 2:0, returning to fourth place in the table.

Outsider Caspiy moved off the bottom. The Aktau side won the West Kazakhstan derby against Atyrau 2:0 at home.

Tomorrow, June 28, the first round of KPL-2026 will conclude with matches: Ulytau vs Ordabasy, Irtysh vs Kaisar, Tobol vs Altai, and Zhenis vs Astana.