Kazakhstan round-up: Tobol rub shoulders with Zhenis
Monday, May 19, 2003
Article summary
A 3-1 win at FC Kairat Almaty saw FC Tobol Kostanay move level on points with league leaders FC Zhenis Astana.
Article body
A 3-1 win at FC Kairat Almaty saw FC Tobol Kostanay move level on points with league leaders FC Zhenis Astana.
Terrific free-kick
With the leaders drawing at FC Shakhtyor Karaganda, Tobol took advantage with Nurken Mazbayev scoring twice either side of a terrific 30-metre free-kick from Kazakhstan international Nurdol Zhumaskaliyev. Alibek Buleshev scored the only goal for the home side.
Bright start
Zhenis scored within six minutes of the kick-off of their game at Shakhtyor through Yuri Aksenov, but they were pegged back within a minute as Andrei Finonchenko scored his sixth goal of the season to earn a 1-1 draw for the home side.
Four in four
FK Aktobe Lento retained their 100 per cent record with a 2-1 win at FC Taraz to remain a point behind the leading pair in third place. Having played just four games - two less than Zhenis and three fewer than FC Tobol - a goal in either half from Bakhyt Kyzylbayev and Vladimir Loginov saw them build up steam before the home side hit a solitary reply through Kanat Musatayev.
In contention
With ten points, FC Ordabasy Shymkent are two points behind Aktobe in fourth after Aleksandr Sobkovich's third-minute goal was enough to earn them a 1-0 win in a heated tie at home against FC Yesil Bogatyr Petropavlovsk. They are level on points with FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan who won 3-0 against FC Batys Uralsk.
Goalless draws
In other sixth round games, reigning champions FC Irtysh Pavlodar continued their drab run with a goalless draw in searing heat at FC Vostok Ust-Kamenogorsk, while there were also no goals in the game between FC Kaisar Kyzylorda and FC Yesil Kokshetau.
Second-half rout
Finally, a second-half rout saw FC Yelimai Semipalatinsk overwhelm FC Ekibastuzets Ekibastyz. Oleg Litvinenko and Oleg Kirimov set Yelimai on their way before Kazakh international Andrei Bogomilov, playing his third game since returning following knee surgery, scored two more. Sukhrob Khamidov pulled a goal back for the visitors in the dying minutes.
