Sensationally losing at home in Almaty to Tobol 1:4, reigning champions Kairat have again fallen behind Ordabasy in the race for the 2026 KPL gold. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

After yesterday's victory for the Shymkent side over Astana 1:0, it was expected that Kairat would continue the game of leapfrog. However, Rafael Urazbakhtin's charges failed to jump over Ordabasy's back. An unexpected home fiasco against Tobol left the Almaty club second in the gold race.

Kairat's only goal in today's match was scored by Mark Gual. The Spanish goal squeezed in between strikes from Serbian Uros Milovanovic, who upset Temirlan Anarbekov twice before the break.

The hosts' attempts to equalize after the break led to nothing. Moreover, Belarusian Vitaly Lisakovich and Venezuelan Luis Guerra finally humiliated the current champions. The heavy defeat for Kairat at the Central Stadium could prove fatal in their title defense campaign.

Match results

⚽ KAIRAT (Almaty) – TOBOL (Kostanay) 1:4 (1:2). Goals: Milovanovic 18 penalty (0:1), Gual 40 (1:1), Milovanovic 44 (1:2), Lisakovich 63 (1:3), Guerra 80 (1:4)

⚽ IRTYSH (Pavlodar) – OKZHETPES (Kokshetau) 2:1 (2:0). Goals: Kalil 17 (1:0), Kalil 33 (2:0), Omirtaev 72 (2:1)

⚽ ULYTAU (Zhezkazgan) – ALTAI (Ust-Kamenogorsk) 0:3 (0:0). Goals: Dodev 58 (0:1), Popov 72 (0:2), Popov 88 (0:3)

⚽ ORDABASY (Shymkent) – ASTANA 1:0 (0:0). Goal: Amir 78

⚽ CASPIY (Aktau) – AKTOBE 1:2 (0:1). Goals: Sosa 39 (0:1), Odjo 72 (0:2), Morgado 87 (1:2). Missed penalty: Shushenachev (A, 39) goalkeeper

⚽ ELIMAI (Semey) – ZHETYSU (Taldykorgan) 2:1 (2:1). Goals: Zivanovic 7 (0:1), Plakka 17 (1:1), Murtazaev 21 (2:1)

⚽ ZHENIS (Astana) – KYZYLZHAR (Petropavlovsk) 3:1 (1:1). Goals: Imnadze 31 (1:0), Urosevic 35 (1:1), Imnadze 74 (2:1), Elder Santana 90+3 penalty (3:1)

⚽ KAISAR (Kyzylorda) – ATYRAU 1:0 (0:0). Goal: Cuckic 83. Sent off: Muhamed (K, 90+2)

Other surprises of the round

The sensation in Almaty was not the only one on the second matchday of the 26th round. Irtysh and Altai, fighting for survival, won in unison. The Pavlodar side beat Okzhetpes 2:1 at home, a team still claiming bronze. Altai dismantled Ulytau in Zhezkazgan – 3:0. Both matches saw braces. Both were scored by winners: Pavlodar's Brazilian Leo Kalil and Ust-Kamenogorsk's Saif Popov.

Next round

The 27th round of the 2026 KPL is scheduled for the coming Thursday and Friday. On September 17, Astana – Kairat, Atyrau – Ordabasy and Tobol – Elimai will play. On the 18th, the matches Okzhetpes – Zhenis, Aktobe – Ulytau, Zhetysu – Caspiy, Altai – Irtysh and Kyzylzhar – Kaisar will take place.