KFF Academy Leads, Zhenis Triumphs in the Battle of Debutants: Highlights of Matchweek II in Freedom QJ League B

KFF Academy continues their winning streak

Before the start of the season, few expected KFF Academy – a team made up of players born in 2010 – to be able to compete with older age groups. Yet that’s exactly what’s happening. After opening the tournament with a dominant win over Altai, Stuart Hall’s team followed it up with another victory, this time against Ulutau in Zhezkazgan. Goals were scored by Platon Shipitsyn (20’) and David Zarechny (63’, penalty).

KFF Academy now sits alone at the top of the Freedom QJ League B standings. Remarkably, the team has yet to concede a single goal in the first two matchweeks.

Victory in the Battle of Debutants Goes to Zhenis

In Matchweek II, two debutant clubs of the Freedom QJ League faced off: Khan-Tengri and Zhenis. The match took place in Almaty, but home advantage didn’t help – the capital club came out on top in a high-scoring clash. When the final whistle blew, the scoreboard read 3:2 in favor of the visitors.

It’s worth noting that the turning point of the match came in the 66th minute when Khan-Tengri goalkeeper Mukagali Tamabek was sent off with the score level at 1-1. His replacement, Meirzhan Amirbek, was unable to stop Rakhat Aktan’s penalty and later conceded another goal from Alinur Maitanov. In the final moments of the game, the hosts managed to reduce the deficit – Madi Salimov found the net to make it 3:2.

Okzhetpes vs Zhetysu: Kalymzhanov’s Elegant Brace and Daut’s Own Goal

The highest-scoring match of Matchweek II was the clash between Okzhetpes and Zhetysu in Kokshetau – the home side secured a 4:2 victory.

The key architect of Okzhetpes’ victory was Tamirlan Kalymzhanov. The 16-year-old midfielder not only scored a brace – finding the net in the 50th and 70th minutes – but also provided an assist for Dmitriy Kolesnichenko’s goal in the 56th. With three goals in two matches, Kalymzhanov now leads the tournament’s scoring charts.

Interestingly, Okzhetpes’ final goal came in the 80th minute, when Petr Popadyuk converted a penalty.

The visitors managed to score a consolation goal only in the 89th minute. Then, deep into stoppage time, Zhetisu reduced the deficit once again – this time thanks to an own goal by Tair Daut, who accidentally redirected the ball into his own net following a corner kick.