In the marquee match of Matchday 26 of the 2026 Kazakhstan Premier League, Astana lost 0-1 away to Ordabasy of Shymkent. A couple of days before the game, the capital club's future sponsor paid off the debt owed to the players, reports infohub.kz.

A collective appeal from Astana's first-team players, threatening to stop playing in the championship until the debts were fully paid, had an effect. The wage arrears were settled, and the team traveled to Shymkent in good spirits.

Ordabasy, who unexpectedly lost to Okzhetpes in Matchday 25, surrendered the lead in the title race. Now the Shymkent side depends not only on its own results but also on Kairat's outcomes.

As the schedule would have it, Astana is testing the title contenders one by one. In Shymkent, the hosts passed the test against the reigning runners-up with flying colors. Andrey Martin's men had plenty of scoring chances. Take, for instance, Leo Natel's thunderous shot against the crossbar in the second half. The Brazilian was unmarked in the opposition penalty area on that play, but his aim was just slightly off.

Grigory Babayan's charges tried to respond to attack with attack. They also created a fair number of dangerous moments. And when the specter of a draw appeared on the horizon, Jasulan Amir sealed Ordabasy's victory with an accurate shot into the corner from outside the penalty area – 1-0.

The Shymkent side has once again leapfrogged Kairat in the title race, but the game of leapfrog at the top could continue tomorrow. On Sunday, the champions host Tobol.

KAZAKHSTAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2026. Matchday 26 fixtures. September 12.

Ordabasy (Shymkent) – Astana 1-0 (0-0). Goal: Amir 78.

Kaspiy (Aktau) – Aktobe 1-2 (0-1). Goals: Sosa 39 (0-1), Ojo 72 (0-2), Morgado 87 (1-2). Missed penalty: Shushenachev (A, 39) saved by goalkeeper.

Yelimay (Semey) – Zhetysu (Taldykorgan) 2-1 (2-1). Goals: Zivanovic 7 (0-1), Placca 17 (1-1), Murtazayev 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 (3-1).

Kaisar (Kyzylorda) – Atyrau 1-0 (0-0). Goal: Cuckic 83. Sent off: Mukhamed (K, 90+2).

Aktobe, which still has a chance at medals, secured a win in Aktau. In the 39th minute, Kaspiy goalkeeper Dinmukhamed Zhomart saved Artur Shushenachev's spot kick. However, after a series of deflections, Niger forward Daniel Sosa opened the scoring. English midfielder Sheyi Ojo doubled Aktobe's lead in the second half. Portuguese player Bernardo Morgado's goal sweetened Kaspiy's bitter pill of defeat.

Yelimay won by the same 2-1 scoreline in Semey against Zhetysu. Andrey Karpovich's team was already trailing 0-1 in the 7th minute of the home match. Serbian Marko Zivanovic scored. But before halftime, Togolese Eloh Placca and Roman Murtazayev each scored to turn the game around. Having lost, the Taldykorgan side dropped into the relegation zone.

Kaisar, who edged Atyrau late in the home match, climbed off the bottom. And caught up with the aforementioned Atyrau on points. The fight for survival in the KPL promises to be heated.

Matchday 26 of the 2026 KPL will conclude tomorrow with the matches Kairat – Tobol, Irtysh – Okzhetpes, and Ulytau – Altai.