The First League of the Kazakhstan football championship saw the completion of the 21st round, as well as a rescheduled match from the ninth round between Kaspiy-M and Turan. After these games, all 14 teams have played 21 matches each, reports infohub.kz.

Karaganda's Shakhter, which had already secured an early return to the Premier League, continues its winning streak. In the latest round, the team thrashed Khan-Tengri 4-0. Dias Kalybaev and Artem Litosh each scored a brace. For Litosh, 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 the standings, six points ahead of their nearest challenger, Kairat-Zhas.

Kairat-Zhas also kept pace with the leader. The Almaty team edged out the youth team of Tobol 1-0 thanks to a goal from Mansur Birkurmanov in the 34th minute. With 52 points, they remain in second place.

In the race for high positions, Turan secured an important win. The Turkestan team thrashed Kaspiy-M away 3-0 and now have 44 points. They trail second-placed Kairat-Zhas by eight points and are five points ahead of fourth-placed Akademia Ontustik.

The Shymkent-based team, in turn, defeated Aktobe-M 2-1. Sanzhar Alkaydarov opened the scoring in the first half, after the break Daulet Muratov equalized, and in the 71st minute Alikhan Ali brought the hosts victory. Akademia Ontustik has 39 points and remains fourth.

One of the most convincing results of the round was Astana-M's 4-0 win over Taraz. Akhmetali Kaltanov and Nuradil Serikov scored before the break, with Anuar Tolendy and Arman Vardanyan adding goals at the end. This victory was the capital team's first after four consecutive defeats.

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

A notable comeback was achieved by Arys. The team was trailing Batyr after a goal from Alibi Mukhit in the 55th minute, 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 with 58 points, Kairat-Zhas with 52, and Turan with 44. They are followed by Akademia Ontustik with 39 points and Zhayik with 30.

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