Shymkent's Ordabasy are marching confidently toward the gold medals in the Kazakhstan football championship. In their 28th-round match, Andrei Martin's men thrashed Kaisar of Kyzylorda 4-1 away. With three rounds remaining, the Shymkent side lead Almaty's Kairat by four points in the title race, infohub.kz reports.

The hero of the match in Kyzylorda was Norwegian striker Bjorn Johnsen, who scored a hat-trick. He netted his first from a somewhat questionable penalty, but completed his brace in true footballing style. In the 33rd minute, the 196-centimeter Scandinavian met a cross from Brazilian Leo Natel and, leaving a defender behind, beat Slovak goalkeeper Adam Kovac for the second time.

After the break, Johnsen added an assist to his two goals, setting up Ghanaian David Abagna. By then, Kaisar had pulled a goal back through Brazilian Klayder Masedo. However, the visitors restored their two-goal lead in the 8th minute of the second half.

And in the 72nd minute, Johnsen turned his brace into a hat-trick, curling the ball into the top corner of the hosts' net — 4-1. Down the stretch, Ordabasy, unlike Kairat, are showing championship form. The Almaty side had struggled to edge past relegation-threatened Zhetysu 1-0 the day before.

KAZAKHSTAN PREMIER LEAGUE 2026. Round 28. October 11. Kaisar (Kyzylorda) — Ordabasy (Shymkent) 1-4 (0-2). Goals: Johnsen 15 pen (0-1), Johnsen 33 (0-2), Masedo 45 (1-2), Abagna 53 (1-3), Johnsen 72 (1-4).

Ulytau (Zhezkazgan) — Okzhetpes (Kokshetau) 2-0 (0-0). Goals: Bunyon 48 (1-0), Zulfikarov 55 (2-0).

Caspian (Aktau) — Altai (Ust-Kamenogorsk) 2-1 (0-1). Goals: Nazymkhanov 27 (0-1), Taikenov 73 (1-1), Klimovich 90+2 (2-1). Sent off: Nazymkhanov 72.

October 10. Irtysh (Pavlodar) — Kyzylzhar (Petropavlovsk) 0-2 (0-1). Goals: Abiken 9 (0-1), Latifi 71 pen (0-2).

Elimai (Semey) — Aktobe 1-3 (0-1). Goals: Yerlanov 15 (0-1), Ojo 49 (0-2), Kairov 83 own goal (1-2), Shushenachev 89 (1-3).

Tobol (Kostanay) — Astana 2-1 (1-0). Goals: Talal 28 (1-0), Bartolec 52 (1-1), Lisakovich 61 (2-1).

Kairat (Almaty) — Zhetysu (Taldykorgan) 1-0 (0-0). Goal: Gual 87. Sent off: Kashken (Z, 90).

Zhenis (Astana) — Atyrau 1-2 (0-2). Goals: Maksimovic 40 (0-1), Maksimovic 45+1 (0-2), Filipovic 79 (1-2). Sent off: Hasein (Z, 68).

Zhezkazgan's Ulytau, beating Okzhetpes 2-0 at home, did a favor for Aktobe, who are battling the Zhezkazgan side and the Astana team for medals and a European spot.

Altai failed to hold on to their lead in Aktau. The Ust-Kamenogorsk side were ahead after Abylaikhan Nazymkhanov's goal until the 73rd minute. But after the scorer was sent off, everything went wrong for the visitors. Maksat Taikenov equalized, and in the second minute of stoppage time, Belarusian Vladislav Klimovich sealed a 2-1 win for Caspian.

In the rescheduled 23rd round of the 2026 Premier League, on October 17 and 18, the following matches will be played: Okzhetpes — Kyzylzhar, Zhetysu — Kaisar, Tobol — Zhenis, Aktobe — Ordabasy, Altai — Atyrau, Elimai — Ulytau, Kairat — Irtysh, and Astana — Caspian.

Midweek, on October 14, two more rescheduled matches will take place. Irtysh will host Astana, and Atyrau will welcome Elimai.