And then there were three

Out of contention
FC Kaisar Kyzlorda were being billed as the surprise package of the season, but seem to have passed their sell-by date in recent weeks, taking just five points from a possible 15 to fall out of the running for the title. They are now eleven points adrift of league leaders FC Irtysh Pavlodar with both teams having seven games to play before the end of the season.

Derby despair
Irtysh in turn are a point clear of Aktobe and Tobol, though the former have a game in hand, and it may be that a 1-1 draw away against bottom side and local rivals FC Energetik Pavlodar at the end of August could end up proving costly. Coach Oirat Saduov said: "I asked the players not to think like they were playing in a derby game. Obviously, I failed to convince them."

Golban goal
Nonetheless, it was Irtysh who found themselves at the top of the table after the last round of games, beating FC Ordabasy Shymkent 4-0 while their two main rivals were engaged in a head-to-head contest in Kostanay. Moldovan striker Alexandru Golban scored the only goal of the game after just two minutes to give Tobol the points and keep things dangerously tight at the top.

Title credentials
Of the three title contenders, Tobol are the only side waiting for a first national title, though they have not finished outside the top three in any season since 2002. Irtysh have been crowned on four occasions – in 1997, 1999, 2002 and 2003 – while reigning champions Aktobe are the team of the moment in Kazakhstan, winning the title in two of the last three seasons.

Atyrau slipping
Towards the foot of the 16-team table, FK Atyrau's confidence has been dealt a severe blow. Coach Sergei Andreev was dismissed after a 7-1 loss at FC Astana but his replacement, former captain Vyacheslav Eremeyev, has failed to halt the slide so far. Andreev had said: "I don't ask my defenders to score goals or make assists, but they have to defend well. Not the way they do."