FC Okzhetpes from Kokshetau snapped a three-match losing streak in the Kazakhstan Premier League by defeating Zhetysu from Taldykorgan 2-0 in the 18th round. The victory at least temporarily lifted the "Blue Mountains" back into the top three of the KPL, reports infohub.kz.
Okzhetpes finished the first half of the season (15 opening rounds) in third place, but then hit a rough patch: two defeats to Almaty's Kairat (in the final match of the first round and the opening of the second round) and a 1-3 loss to Kostanay's Tobol. After that, Astana, which edged Aktobe 3-2, pushed the Kokshetau side out of the top three with 29 points.
Okzhetpes started the 18th round earlier than other teams with a home match against 11th-placed Zhetysu. The hosts pressed from the first minute. In the 18th minute, the visitors committed a foul inside their own penalty area. The referee initially did not award a penalty, but after a VAR review, he pointed to the spot. Dmitry Borodin confidently beat the goalkeeper to make it 1-0.
In the second half, Zhetysu leveled the game, but in the 75th minute, substitute Marko Zivanovic received a straight red card for a rough tackle on the opposing half (again after VAR intervention). Reduced to 10 men, the visitors could not mount attacks, and in stoppage time Okzhetpes scored a second goal: Tokhtar Zhangylyshbay shot from close range after a pass from Nurgaini Buribayev to make it 2-0.
With this win, Okzhetpes reached 30 points and moved up to third place. Astana (29 points, one game in hand) could have displaced them but is idle this weekend due to European qualifying. Thus, Okzhetpes will remain third at least until the next round (Round 19, July 25). In Round 19, the Kokshetau club will play away against Aktobe, which on July 19 hosts Ust-Kamenogorsk's Altai. If Aktobe wins, it will trail Okzhetpes by just two points.
The sole leader of the KPL remains Shymkent's Ordabasy (40 points after 17 matches), but on Saturday evening Almaty's Kairat (39 points after 18 games) could overtake them if they beat Atyrau away. On Sunday, July 19, Ordabasy will host Semey's Yelimay, currently in sixth place, at home.