A preview of the upcoming matchweek in the girls’ competition.
Kairat – Shakhter
The Almaty side are one step away from sealing the title early. A win for the Yellow and Blacks over Shakhter would leave Astana with no mathematical chance of closing the gap.
Despite an inconsistent season, Shakhter have hit good form in recent matches. The team are on a three-game winning streak after beating Ordabasy, Irtysh and Aktobe. Kairat, however, are an entirely different challenge. Can the Karaganda side spring a surprise and keep Astana’s hopes alive?
Astana – Aktobe
However, even if Kairat drop points, the title race may still fail to reach the final matchweek. Astana have lost two of their last three matches. While the heavy defeat to the reigning champions was hardly a shock, the result in Matchweek 12 was both unexpected and frustrating. A week ago, the capital side suffered a narrow defeat in Shymkent, with an own goal by Zarema Maksot deciding the match.
Aktobe’s last three matchweeks have brought an 8–0 away rout in Kyzylorda, a hard-fought 2–0 home win over Ordabasy and a 2–1 defeat to Shakhter in Karaganda after letting a draw slip away. Defender Nazym Kuletova will miss the match against Astana through suspension – good news for the capital side’s attack.
Tobyl – Ordabasy
While the visitors are already out of contention for a top-three finish, Tobyl sit just three points behind third-placed Shakhter. With the right combination of results, Denis Safronov’s team could therefore claim the bronze medals. Interestingly, Aktobe find themselves in the same position – and Tobyl will face the Red and Whites in the final matchweek.
Tobyl’s trip to Shymkent in the first half of the season ended in an entertaining 2–2 draw. Both teams will surely be determined to have the final say this time around.
Irtysh – Kaisar
A meeting between the league’s bottom two sides, sitting second from bottom and bottom respectively. Irtysh are four points ahead of Kaisar – seven points compared to three.
Their first meeting ended in a narrow Irtysh victory, with Polina Arlanova scoring the only goal in Kyzylorda in the 74th minute. The Pavlodar side, currently on a four-game losing streak, cannot afford to relax – this may be Kaisar’s best opportunity to add to their points tally before the season comes to an end.
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