Expert Analysis: Artem Egorov

The Sunday KPL match day kicks off in Kokshetau, where local side Okzhetpes will host the formidable Astana. The visitors arrive with a singular objective: victory. Anything less could jeopardize their championship aspirations.

Okzhetpes is currently in dreadful form, having lost three consecutive matches, including a 1-3 defeat to mid-table Kzyl-Zhar. Even a team of Kzyl-Zhar’s caliber easily breached Okzhetpes’ defense throughout the game (21 shots and nine corners). For comparison, the Petropavlovsk team has only scored 24 goals this season, while Astana boasts 58 goals.

In their previous fixture, Astana secured a crucial three points against Tobol with a 3-2 victory. Notably, veteran Marin Tomasov stepped up at this pivotal stage of the season, scoring a brace and netting the winning goal in stoppage time. It’s also worth highlighting that Astana has scored at least three goals in four of their last five matches.

With only three rounds remaining until the end of the season, Astana trails the top spot by just two points. It is clear that their players will be fully committed to fighting for a win in every match. The struggling Okzhetpes is unlikely to pose a significant obstacle to their ambitions.