The Medal Race Continues: Freedom QJ League Matchweek XVII Preview

Shakhtyor – Caspiy: different goals, but maximum motivation

Thanks to Zhas Kyran’s slip against Tobol and their head-to-head victory over the Almaty side, the “miners” have a solid chance of finishing the season in second place. However, for that, the Karaganda team must avoid repeating past mistakes and not drop points.

Caspiy, meanwhile, still has a chance to escape the bottom of the table, where they fell back after Tobol’s wins in the rescheduled matches. With six weeks remaining, Miras Tuliyev’s side has no intention of giving up.

Zhas Kyran – Aktobe: will the Almaty team bounce back?

After going the entire season unbeaten, the Almaty team suffered two consecutive defeats, putting their medal ambitions at risk. Zhas Kyran remains second in the standings, but the gap to sixth place is only five points, and many contenders are still in the medal race.

Aktobe has lost its last three matches – however, it’s worth remembering that the “red-and-whites” took points off Astana twice and also drew with Shakhtyor. This upcoming clash promises to be very interesting.

Ordabasy – Taraz: the border between the two halves of the table

The two southern teams sit side by side in mid-table, but six points separate them. If Taraz wins, they will still keep a slim hope of finishing in the top six. However, a poor result away from home will only widen the gap between the league’s top and bottom halves.

Tobol – Kairat: can the hosts beat another Almaty team?

Tobol took advantage of two rescheduled matches, defeating Zhas Kyran and Aktobe, though they did lose to Ordabasy in between.

Now Oleg Lotov’s side faces the toughest challenge of the second half of the season – their first-week clash with Kairat in Almaty ended in a 1:6 defeat.

But in Matchweek XII, Caspiy proved that surprises are always possible in football by holding the “yellow-and-blacks” to a draw. Can Tobol repeat or even surpass that result?

Atyrau – Kaisar: two tough teams

The “oilmen,” after a big win over Tobol, have lost three games in a row – but each by the narrowest of margins, against medal contenders.

Kaisar is no easier – aside from two heavy defeats against the Almaty clubs, the “wolves” have consistently shared points with their opponents, recording five draws in their last seven matches. How will this clash of two stubborn outsiders end? We’ll find out soon.

Astana – Irtysh: will there be an overtake in the medal race?

The capital side trails Pavlodar’s team by two points and will leapfrog them in the table if they win. Both clubs are chasing medals, but their form isn’t as convincing as their rivals’. In the previous week, Astana only narrowly won in Atyrau, while Irtysh avoided defeat against Aktobe with a late equalizer.

Will either of them gain the upper hand, or will both drop points against each other?