In the 23rd round of Kazakhstan's First League, leaders Shakhter Karaganda were held to a 0-0 draw by Taraz, while Kairat-Zhastar won 2-0 against Khan-Tengri in Almaty, reports infohub.kz.

The Karaganda side, who have already secured promotion to the Kazakhstan Premier League, played out a very even home draw with Taraz. The visitors, who had harbored promotion ambitions before the season, saw those hopes fade as the campaign progressed, but they have not forgotten how to play. Both teams had chances to break the deadlock but failed to do so — 0-0.

Kairat-Zhastar, who went into halftime against Khan-Tengri at 0-0, won in the second half through goals from Daulet Orynbasar and Yevgeny Petrik. It was the team's 17th victory of the season.

Turan, with a 4-1 home win over Yelimai-M, once again proved that next season at Turkestan Arena no elite opponent will find it easy.

The capital's youth team demolished Batyr's defense 7-1. In a match with eight goals, Rakhimzhan Amangeldinov scored a brace.

In the final Saturday match of the round, bottom side Tobol-M cruised to a 3-0 win over their peers from Kaspiy, thanks to goals from Sultan Bakhyttkiyev, Emin Musayev, and Nurmubarak Zhaksylyk.

Results of the other 23rd-round matches:

September 19. Tobol-M (Kostanay) — Kaspiy-M (Aktau) 3-0 (1-0). Goals: Bakhyttkiyev 43 (1-0), Musayev 79 (2-0), Zhaksylyk 90+1 (3-0).

September 18. Khan-Tengri (Almaty) — Kairat-Zhastar (Almaty) 0-2 (0-0). Goals: Orynbasar 64 (0-1), Petrik 74 (0-2).

Astana-M — Batyr (Ekibastuz) 7-1 (5-0). Goals: Akhmetov 14 (1-0), Anuarov 19 (2-0), Kaltanov 21 (3-0), Abrayev 22 (4-0), Amangeldinov 34 (5-0), Kalymbetov 56 (5-1), Valikhan 60 (6-1), Amangeldinov 90+2 penalty (7-1).

Turan (Turkestan) — Yelimai-M (Semey) 4-1 (2-0). Goals: Kenesov 35 (1-0), Turlybek 45 (2-0), Duisenbekuly 50 (3-0), Nuradilov 52 (3-1), Zhalmukan 83 (4-1).

September 17. Arys — Aktobe-M 4-1 (2-0). Goals: Vaganov 1 (1-0), Mansurov 39 (2-0), Begimov 74 penalty (2-1), Zulypbek 80 (3-1), Moldakarayev 74 (4-1).

Academy Ontustik (Shymkent) — Zhaiyk (Uralsk) 0-0. Alkaidarov sent off (A, 88).

Shakhter (Karaganda) — Taraz 0-0.

The 24th round of the First League will take place on October 8 and 9.