Will It All Be Decided This Weekend? Freedom QJ League Matchweek 19 Preview

Astana – Tobyl

The capital side are now winless in nine consecutive matchweeks, with their last victory coming in Matchweek 9, while last weekend ended in a heavy 2–6 defeat in Aktobe. Astana sit ninth with 16 points.

The hosts’ task is complicated by suspensions: goalkeeper Tamerlan Zhanabergenov and defender Tair Dulat will miss the match after receiving red cards.

Tobyl, meanwhile, arrive in good form. Two consecutive victories have allowed the Kostanay side to consolidate their place in the top six with 26 points.

However, the visitors will be without Nabi Talasbek in the capital. The forward has accumulated too many yellow cards and has recorded 4+2 in goals and assists this season.

Irtysh – KFF Academy

In Pavlodar, two teams from different parts of the table but with similarly inconsistent form will meet. Irtysh are bottom with 12 points and come into the match after two consecutive defeats, the latest a 2–3 loss in Kostanay.

Their home record offers some encouragement: Pavlodar have collected nine of their 27 possible points at home, compared with only three away. The key figure in attack is Madiyar Yesen, who has 5+4.

KFF Academy arrive after their most convincing performance of the past month. A 4–1 win over Taraz ended a run of three straight defeats. The team sit seventh with 23 points, and one of their defining traits is their lack of draws: only two in 18 matchweeks, fewer than every team except Kairat.

Taraz – Kaisar

Taraz are eighth with 19 points, but after two consecutive defeats their cushion over the lower part of the table has been reduced to almost nothing.

The hosts’ main strength is their home form: 14 of their 19 points have been earned in Taraz. Add to that Rasul Nurmanbay’s impressive 9+3 output and 62 saves from Dias Undash.

Things are more difficult for Kaisar: 15 points, tenth place and 56 goals conceded. The Kyzylorda side have lost four of their last five matches, including a 1–2 home defeat to Shakhter.

At the same time, the Wolves’ only away victory was emphatic – a 3–0 win over KFF Academy – so the visitors cannot be written off.

Especially with Yernar Parda (7+4) and Madi Zhenisuly (7+1) in their ranks. Kaisar will also be weakened by the suspension of Yernur Seitbekov.

Aktobe – Zhas Kyran

A direct battle for a place in the top four: both teams have 26 points and exactly the same record – seven wins, five draws and six defeats.

The Red-and-Whites have won two consecutive matches, while their attack is the third most productive in the league with 41 goals. The downside is the 42 goals conceded, leaving the fourth-placed side with a negative goal difference.

The driving force is Ayan Amanzhulov with 9+9 in goals and assists, followed by Ibrahim Bauyrzhanov (7+7), while Bikzhan Zhanayev has scored eight goals in just 11 appearances.

Zhas Kyran, meanwhile, have gone two matches without a win. The visitors will also be without two players: Sergey Sharunov (7+3) and Nader Mowafi Mahmoud are both suspended.

Their main hope is Alan Lukanin, the only player in the team to have reached double figures for goals, with 10+5. It is also worth noting that Aktobe won the reverse fixture in Almaty 2–1.

Shakhter – Ordabasy

Shakhter are second with 41 points, while Ordabasy sit third on 33. A victory for the Shymkent side would reopen the battle for second place.

Shakhter’s home record is impressive: nine matches, nine wins and a 28:2 goal difference. The Miners suffered their only defeat of the season in Almaty against Kairat (1–3) and have conceded just 11 goals overall – the best record after the champions.

One concern for the hosts is their squad situation: Ilya Gezik and Danil Litvinenko will both miss the match through suspension after red cards.

Ordabasy arrive in Karaganda as the first team this season to take points from Kairat, following a 1–1 draw last matchweek. The Shymkent side have been all-or-nothing away from home: five wins and four defeats in nine matches, with no draws. Attacking leader Adilbek Turdakh (13+5) is the league’s second-highest scorer, supported by Diyar Rakhimzhanov (6+5).

The reverse fixture in Shymkent ended 1–1.

Kairat – Caspiy

The equation is simple: a win on Sunday will make Kairat champions with matches to spare. The Almaty side would move to 55 points, while even if Shakhter win, they could reach a maximum of 53 points from their three remaining matches.

Caspiy are 11th with 14 points, but they produced a respectable performance last weekend by taking a point from Zhas Kyran in a 3–3 draw. Interestingly, the Aktau side have scored more goals away than at home, while their only away victory was emphatic – 5–1 in Astana.

Kairat won the reverse fixture in Aktau 3–0.