Could the champions be crowned early? Freedom QJ League Matchweek 17 Preview

Irtysh – Aktobe

The Pavlodar side head into the match in high spirits after taking all three points away in the capital last Matchweek (3–2). However, Irtysh remain bottom of the table with 12 points.

Aktobe, meanwhile, have been struggling for form: just four points from their last five Matchweeks, with one win, one draw and three defeats. Nevertheless, the Red and Whites remain fifth on 20 points, ahead of Tobyl and Akademiya KFF on tiebreakers.

There is plenty at stake, so the visitors will be determined to take all three points.

Taraz – Tobyl

Tobyl are just one point ahead of Taraz – 20 to 19.

Their first meeting in Kostanay was remembered for a heated finish. The hosts had led since the 27th minute, but Rasul Nurmanbai equalised from the penalty spot in the 80th. A confrontation then broke out, resulting in red cards for Tobyl midfielder Nazar Zakharchenko and Taraz goalkeeper Abylai Alimkhan.

Taraz are in good form at the moment: five Matchweeks unbeaten and 11 points collected during that run. Tobyl, meanwhile, have traditionally struggled away from home, scoring just three goals in eight matches and recording only one victory, which came in Aktau.

On the other hand, Tobyl boast the third-best defence in the League with 17 goals conceded, bettered only by Kairat and Shakhter. How will the situation in the middle of the table change? We will find out very soon.

Astana – Zhas Kyran

For the visitors, this is a match in which they cannot afford to drop points. They are five points behind third-placed Ordabasy, with six Matchweeks remaining. Last time out, Oleg Trofimov's side got themselves back into the race by beating the Shymkent team 5–3 in a high-scoring encounter.

Astana, meanwhile, are going through their worst spell of the season: seven matches without a win and just one point from their last five Matchweeks. The capital side have conceded 39 goals, with only Irtysh (46) and Kaisar (45) allowing more.

Still, Astana have a pleasant memory from the first round. They came away from Almaty with a 2–1 victory, with Arsen Ispanov scoring the decisive goal in added time. Can they repeat that success on home soil?

Kairat – Kaisar

Kairat have been flawless this season, and on Sunday the reigning champions have a chance to secure the title early. If the Almaty side beat Kaisar and Shakhter lose to Akademiya KFF, the Yellow and Blacks will become mathematically unreachable with five Matchweeks still to play.

The Kyzylorda side will travel to Almaty without two important players. Yernar Parda, who has 7 goals and 4 assists this season, and defender Nurym Talgat are both suspended. In the first round, the Wolves suffered a 4–0 home defeat.

Caspiy – Ordabasy

After their defeat in Almaty, the Shymkent side will surely be eager to bounce back. Ordabasy have adopted an “all or nothing” approach away from home this season: four wins and four defeats, without a single draw.

Caspiy are also a no-compromise team, although in a different sense: they have suffered 11 defeats and recorded just one draw this season. However, three of their four victories have come on home soil. The first meeting between the teams ended in a 3–1 win for Ordabasy.

Both clubs will be missing players through suspension: Asadbek Abdulkhakimov for Ordabasy and Yersin Orantayev for Caspiy.

Shakhter – Akademiya KFF

Shakhter have been flawless at home: eight matches, eight wins. All five of their draws and their only defeat of the season, against Kairat, have come away from home.

Akademiya KFF head into the match after a dip in form. Three consecutive victories were followed by defeats to Caspiy (1–2) and Kairat (0–2). However, the youngest team in the League should not be written off: they are the only side to have beaten third-placed Ordabasy twice, winning 4–3 and 2–0.

Shakhter won the first meeting 2–0, with Rasul Akimov scoring both goals. What should we expect this weekend?

Akademiya KFF will be without an important player in Askhat Dutpayev, who featured in all 16 previous Matchweeks but is suspended due to an accumulation of yellow cards.

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