The matches of the 21st round of the Kazakhstan First League have concluded. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing Kursiv Media.

Karaganda's Shakhter, which had already secured its return to the Premier League ahead of schedule, continues its winning streak. This time, the team thrashed Khan-Tengri 4-0. Dias Kalybayev and Artem Litos both scored braces. For Litos, the league's top scorer, these goals were his 20th and 21st of the current First League season.

This victory was Shakhter's 14th in a row. The Karaganda side now has 58 points and continues to lead, six points ahead of their nearest challenger, Kairat-Zhastar.

All results of the 21st round

  • 01Zhaik (Uralsk) – Elimai-M (Semey) 2:0 (1:0). Goals: Chirkov 12 penalty (1:0), Chirkov 85 (2:0)
  • 02Tobol-M (Kostanay) – Kairat-Zhastar (Almaty) 0:1 (0:1). Goal: Birkurmanov 34
  • 03Astana-M – Taraz 4:0 (2:0). Goals: Kaltanov 20 (1:0), Serikov 43 (2:0), Tolendy 87 (3:0), Vardanyan 89 (4:0)
  • 04Academy Ontustik (Shymkent) – Aktobe-M 2:1 (1:0). Goals: Alkhaidarov 36 (1:0), Muratov 57 (1:1), Ali 71 (2:1)
  • 05Arys – Batyr (Ekibastuz) 3:1 (0:0). Goals: Orazaly 56 (0:1), Kuralbayev 67 penalty (1:1), Vaganov 75 (2:1), Abdimutalipov 90+3 (3:1)
  • 06Shakhter (Karaganda) – Khan-Tengri (Almaty) 4:0 (2:0). Goals: Kalybayev 17 (1:0), Litos 25 (2:0), Litos 49 (3:0), Kalybayev 71 (4:0)
  • 07Kaspiy-M (Aktau) – Turan (Turkestan) 0:3 (0:2). Goals: Duisenbekuly 9 (0:1), Duisenbekuly 45 (0:2), Kenesov 53 (0:3)

Kairat-Zhastar also did not let the leader get away. The Almaty side narrowly beat Tobol's youth team thanks to a goal from Mansur Birkurmanov on 34 minutes – 1:0. With 52 points, the team remains in second place.

In the battle for the top spots, Turan secured an important victory. The Turkestan side thrashed Kaspiy-M away 3-0 and now have 44 points. They trail second-placed Kairat-Zhastar by eight points and lead fourth-placed Academy Ontustik by five.

The Shymkent team, in turn, beat Aktobe-M 2-1. Sanzhar Alkhaidarov opened the scoring in the first half, Daulet Muratov equalized after the break, and Alikhan Ali secured the win for the hosts on 71 minutes. Academy Ontustik has 39 points and remains fourth.

One of the most convincing results of the round was Astana-M's 4-0 victory over Taraz. Akhmetali Kaltanov and Nuradil Serikov scored before the interval, while Anuar Tolendy and Arman Vardanyan added late goals. This was the capital club's first win after four consecutive defeats.

Zhaik, having beaten Elimai-M 2-0, moved up to fifth place. The Uralsk side now has 30 points, overtaking Astana-M and Taraz, who have 29 and 28 respectively.

Arys pulled off a notable comeback. The team trailed Batyr after Alibi Mukhit's goal on 55 minutes, but then scored three times. Yerbolat Kuralbayev equalized, Maxim Vaganov put the hosts ahead, and Kairat Abdimutalipov sealed the win in stoppage time – 3:1.

After 21 matches played, the top three are Shakhter – 58 points, Kairat-Zhastar – 52, and Turan – 44. They are followed by Academy Ontustik with 39 and Zhaik with 30.

The 22nd round matches will take place on September 10 and 11.