We recap the main highlights from the latest matches of the girls’ tournament.
Astana stay top
The capital side hosted Irtysh at Air Arena and claimed a 4-0 victory.
The only goal before the break was an own goal, with Stella Baburchina-Luklyanets finding her own net in the 36th minute. After the interval, Astana comfortably finished the job: Sofia Rybak scored in the 47th minute, captain Asyl Pazyl added another in the 60th, and substitute Laysan Bikkinina completed the scoring in the 81st. Notably, the refereeing team did not show a single card in the match.
Astana remain the only unbeaten team in the tournament, with eight wins and one draw from nine matches. Bolat Saginbayev's side also boast the best defensive record in the league, having conceded just six goals.
Nikolenko reaches 15 goals!
Kairat continue to keep the pressure on the leaders. In Aktobe, the defending champions won by the same scoreline as Astana did in the capital – 4-0.
Milena Nikolenko opened the scoring and later doubled the visitors' advantage, finding the net in the 33rd and 73rd minutes. Soon afterwards, Zhaniya Makhash and Sofia Yagudina scored just two minutes apart. Such bursts have already become a trademark of Kairat, who have scored 55 goals in nine matches.
Nikolenko, meanwhile, has now taken her personal tally to 15 goals and seven assists.
Astana have 25 points, with Kairat on 24. The Almaty side's only defeat of the season came against the current leaders (0-2), and the teams will meet again in the next Matchweek – this time in Almaty.
Tobyl concede first but cruise past Shakhter
The hosts welcomed Shakhter in Kostanay and conceded in the very first minute, with Daria Tulegenova opening the scoring. From there, however, the match went Tobyl's way. Alina Sartayeva equalised in the 33rd minute before the Kostanay side scored three more times after the break to secure a 4-1 victory.
The standout player was Yasmina Mantulina, who came on at half-time and scored twice, in the 68th and 88th minutes. Between her two goals, Tobyl captain Amura Karabayeva successfully converted a penalty.
The victory ended Tobyl's three-match winless run and tightened the battle for the bronze medals. Aktobe, Tobyl and Shakhter all have 11 points, with their positions determined by additional tiebreakers.
Ordabasy recover from missed penalty
Ordabasy defeated Kaisar 2-1 in Shymkent.
The visitors took the lead in the 28th minute through Shamsiya Zarlykhan, while the hosts missed a chance to equalise in the 39th minute when Arailym Sharapat saved Balnur Yergeshbek's penalty.
Nevertheless, Ordabasy turned the game around after the break. Yulduzkhan Muzrapova scored in the 51st minute before Yergeshbek herself netted the winner seven minutes later.
The Shymkent side are sixth with 10 points and have moved within touching distance of the three clubs sitting on 11. Kaisar remain bottom of the table with three points, eight defeats in nine matches and 39 goals conceded. Their only victory of the season came against Ordabasy (3-2), but they were unable to repeat that result in the return fixture.
Top scorer after Matchweek 9: Milena Nikolenko (Kairat, 15 goals).
Top assist provider after Matchweek 9: Zhaniya Makhash (Kairat, 11 assists).
