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Matchweek 3 of the Freedom QJ League is over. We look back at the key storylines from the matches in League A’s younger age categories.
Kairat drop points for the first time
Three of the four matches between Aktobe and Kairat ended in confident wins for the Almaty club. However, in one age category — U-16 — the Red-and-Whites managed to take points off the favourites, much to the delight of the fans at the stadium.
Moreover, it was Aktobe who opened the scoring in this match, with Muslim Alibek finding the net in the 31st minute. The hosts, however, did not hold on to their lead for long: before half-time, Kairat forward Kaisar Anuarbek equalised.
The entire second half passed without any goals, and the match ended 1-1. As a result, Kairat found themselves third in the standings, with Ordabasy and Shakhter moving ahead after defeating Atletico and Astana respectively.
Aktobe became the first team in the U-16 tournament to record all three possible results in the opening three matches. Shakhter and Astana U-15 have also collected four points from three matchweeks. What results await them in the next round?
Tobyl U-15’s impressive run
While the older age groups are led after three matchweeks by southern teams and Shakhter, the youngest competition has produced a unique frontrunner — Tobyl. The Kostanay club’s 2012-born players started the championship in convincing fashion, defeating Kaisar 7-0, Ordabasy 3-1 and Kaspiy 5-1.
Tobyl have impressed not only with their well-organised team mechanism — for example, 20 shots on target against Kaisar’s 0 — but also with individual talent. One of them is Artur Garifullin, who currently leads the scoring chart with five goals and one assist.
In Matchweek 4, Tobyl will face the other team that still has a perfect record in the U-15 tournament — Kairat. Their meeting is set to be one of the central fixtures of the round.
A productive start
Several players in the younger age categories of League A have already managed to register a goal contribution in each of the first three matchweeks.
In the U-15 tournament, these are Taraz forward Arnur Batyrbai with four goals and two assists, and Zhas Kyran forward Zharas Erik with four goals and one assist.
In the U-16 category, there are six such players: Ramazan Keleskhan of Ordabasy with three goals and three assists, Balakhmet Adilbek of Tobyl with six goals, Adil Bekbolov of Zhas Kyran with three goals, Maksim Bonet of Shakhter with three goals, Temirlan Baibulatov of Shakhter with three goals, and Damir Alibayev of Tobyl with four assists.
Finally, two players have shown consistent attacking output in the U-17 tournament: Ali Sadyrbayev of Shakhter with three goals and three assists, and Temirlan Abzhapar of Kairat with three goals and two assists.
Top scorers after Matchweek 3
Freedom QJ League U-17: Tamerlan Sarsymbayev, Kairat — 5 goals;
Freedom QJ League U-16: Balakhmet Adilbek, Tobyl — 6 goals;
Freedom QJ League U-15: Artur Garifullin, Tobyl — 5 goals.
Top assist providers after Matchweek 3
Freedom QJ League U-17: Ali Sadyrbayev, Shakhter — 3 assists;
Freedom QJ League U-16: Damir Alibayev, Tobyl — 4 assists;
Freedom QJ League U-15: Sanzhar Baidavletov, Aktobe — 4 assists.
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