Freedom QJ League U-17, U-16, U-15: key stories from Matchweek 6

Freedom QJ League U-17

Kairat and Shakhter continue their perfect run

Both leaders of the U-17 tournament won their matches once again.

Kairat made it 18 points out of 18 by defeating Kaysar 5-0 in Kyzylorda. Tamerlan Sarsymbayev scored a brace, while Akmadi Zhumakhan, Ibrakhim Asan and Alan Askhatuly added one goal each. Daryn Ibadilda registered two assists. The scoreline could have been even bigger: late in the first half, Kaysar goalkeeper Alamin Saparbay saved Nurkhad Nurymov’s penalty.

Saparbay, incidentally, had only come on shortly before the spot-kick. Kaysar started the match with Nikita Maskayev in goal, but he was sent off in the 39th minute for denying an obvious goalscoring opportunity. As a result, the hosts played the second half with ten men.

As for Shakhter, the other favorite continued their flawless run with a 3-0 away win over KFF Academy. Nikita Dukhov scored a brace, while Yeldar Zholdikanov added another goal.

The closest pursuers of the Yellow-Blacks and the Miners remain Ordabasy’s juniors, who now have 16 points after beating Caspiy in the previous matchweek.

Braces in Aktobe

Aktobe’s players delighted their fans by beating Irtysh at home.

It was the Pavlodar side who initially scored the opening goal, with Islam Yuriy finding the net in the 12th minute. However, the match eventually ended 4-1: Miras Nurlanov and Arsen Baizhanov both scored braces. Nurali Bizhanov also had a kind of brace of his own, providing assists for the Red-Whites’ final two goals.

Tobyl’s first win — in the final minutes!

The Kostanay club finally claimed their first victory in the U-17 tournament, beating Taraz at home. It was far from easy.

In the 5th minute, home forward Yerassyl Seidakhmetov had the chance to take a penalty. Taraz goalkeeper Dinmukhamed Meiyrkhan saved the shot but could not hold on to the ball, and Yerassyl was successful on the rebound.

Despite taking 21 shots, the visitors managed to score against Tobyl only once, equalizing in the 75th minute. The match was nearing its end, and it looked as though the teams would settle for a draw. But in stoppage time, Nursultan Tosbatyr scored to give the Kostanay side the long-awaited three points.

Freedom QJ League U-16

Caspiy’s first win — against one of the leaders!

The Aktau side moved off the bottom of the table after beating Ordabasy 3-2 at home.

The main heroes of Caspiy’s first victory were Aslan Zholdy, who scored a brace, and Rakhmanberdi Aleksandr, who recorded a goal and an assist. Zhasulan Toilybai and Daniyal Sagyndilda scored once each for the visitors, but the Shymkent side had far more attempts — 20 shots, 11 of them on target.

This defeat, Ordabasy’s second in a row, seriously complicated the southerners’ situation. Although they retained third place in the table, the gap to second-placed Kairat now stands at four points. They are already six points behind leaders Shakhter, who have yet to draw or lose.

Freedom QJ League U-15

Garifullin’s incredible performance

The main highlight of the past matchweek among players born in 2012 was a brilliant performance by Tobyl forward Artur Garifullin in the away match against Taraz.

As a reminder, in Freedom QJ League U-15, regulation time lasts 80 minutes. By the 70th minute, the southerners were leading 3-2. Garifullin’s assist and goal had helped Tobyl recover after conceding twice in a row, but Taraz forward Artur Batyrbai scored a brace and restored his team’s advantage.

However, Artur did not stop at one goal and one assist. He scored three more goals in the closing stages of the match, the last of them in stoppage time. Thanks to this victory, Tobyl continue to chase leaders Kairat and are still three points behind the Yellow-Blacks, who have yet to slip up.

Garifullin therefore finished the match with four goals and an assist. In total, after six matchweeks, he has 11 goals and 2 assists.

Last week, Artur was the main participant in the first individual training session under the Player of the Future project — how many more goals will he score?

Aktobe keep pace with the leaders, Astana rescue victory late on

Aktobe sit third in the table with 13 points. In the past matchweek, the Red-Whites beat Irtysh 2-0 away thanks to a brace from Milan Nadryshin. After losing to Kairat and drawing with Shakhter, Yermek Temirzakov’s players seem to have found their rhythm — this was their second consecutive win.

Next come Astana, who came very close to dropping points against Zhas Kyran. The capital side secured a home win thanks to Samgat Tolybai’s stoppage-time goal. It is worth noting that the hosts managed to take all three points despite being down to ten men after Islam Turakbayev was sent off in the 52nd minute.

Top scorers after Matchweek 6

Freedom QJ League U-17: Timur Tugambekov, Zhas Kyran, and Tamerlan Sarsymbayev, Kairat — 7 goals each;
Freedom QJ League U-16: Balakhmet Adilbek, Tobyl — 7 goals;
Freedom QJ League U-15: Artur Garifullin, Tobyl — 11 goals.

Top assist providers after Matchweek 6

Freedom QJ League U-17: Temirlan Abzhapar, Kairat — 5 assists;
Freedom QJ League U-16: Damir Alibayev, Tobyl — 5 assists;
Freedom QJ League U-15: Ilfrat Yelakayev and Dias Abubakir, both Kairat; Rafael Yeszhanov, Astana; and Sanzhar Baidauletov, Aktobe — 4 assists each.