Kazakhstan round-up: Bad news for Irtysh

FC Irtysh Pavlodar have been punished by the Football Union of Kazakhstan for fielding an ineligible player in their first two matches.

Results changed
Irtysh had picked up four points from the two matches but the fact they played the suspended Rustam Usmanov, means both results against FC Kaisar Kyzylorda and FC Ordabasy Shymkent will now be changed to 3-0 victories for their opponents.

Tleshev winner
There was at least some good news for Irtysh, however, as they won their first home match of the season, 1-0 against FC Kairat Almaty. The victory came courtesy of striker Murat Tleshev's 59th-minute goal.

Perfect start
FC Zhenis Astana maintained their perfect start to the season by defeating FC Kaisar Kyzylorda 2-0. Igor Avdeev opened the scoring in the 47th minute and Sergej Kozulin completed it three minutes from the end.

Entertaining draw
The match of the day saw FC Yelimai Semipalatinsk earn a 2-2 draw at home against old rivals FC Vostok Ust-Kamenogorsk. Despite the freezing temperatures, 8,500 people turned out and they were not disappointed. Yelimai took the lead in the 29th minute through Murat Iskakov only for Rinad Aiztullov to equalise five minutes before half-time. Vostok then went in front through Pavel Udalov in the 57th minute before Dmitri Bogarada levelled with 16 minutes left on the clock.

Another defeat
Last season's runners-up, FK Atyrau, visited FK Aktobe-Lento and suffered another league defeat. Rafael Urazbakhtin and Vladimir Loginov scored in the ninth and 58th minutes respectively to give the home side a 2-0 win. FC Taraz were denied in the last minute against FC Yesil Bogatyr Petropavlovsk after a last-minute effort from Yuri Chukhleba and had to settle for a 1-1 draw. The match between FC Ekibastuzets Ekibastyz and FC Shakhtyor Karaganda ended with the same score.

Glukhov settles it
In the two remaining games, FC Yesil Kokshetau were beaten 1-0 by FC Zhetysu Taldukorgan thanks to Evgeni Glukhov's goal four minutes from half-time, while FC Tobol Kostanay won 3-0 at home against FC Ordabasy Shymkent.