Kaisar Kyzylorda 2–1 Tobol Kostanai
Kazakhstan Premier League | 17 May 2026, 22:00

Match Overview

Kaisar Kyzylorda secured a hard‑fought 2–1 victory over Tobol Kostanai at the Gani Muratbayev Stadium, climbing away from the relegation zone in the process. The home side produced a spirited second‑half performance after falling behind early, turning the game around with two quick‑fire goals.

First Half – Tobol Take the Lead

Tobol began the brighter side and capitalised in the 18th minute. A corner kick was not cleared cleanly by the Kaisar defence, and the ball fell to Azat Nurgaliyev, who volleyed home from eight yards. Kaisar struggled to create clear chances before the break, with Tobol goalkeeper Stas Pokatilov untroubled.

Second Half – Kaisar’s Comeback

The hosts came out with far more intensity after half‑time. They equalised in the 52nd minute when Elkhan Astanov broke into the box and was brought down by a Tobol defender. Bauyrzhan Turysbek stepped up and converted the penalty confidently. The turnaround was complete just eight minutes later. A well‑worked move down the right ended with Mirlan Murzayev cutting inside and firing a low shot into the bottom corner.

Tobol pushed for an equaliser in the final quarter of an hour but found Kaisar’s goalkeeper Mukhammedzhan Seisen in inspired form. He denied substitute Sergey Khizhnichenko with a fine save in the 81st minute.

Key Moments

• 18' – Azat Nurgaliyev volleys Tobol into the lead.
• 52' – Penalty awarded to Kaisar for a foul on Elkhan Astanov.
• 53' – Bauyrzhan Turysbek scores from the spot (1–1).
• 60' – Mirlan Murzayev makes it 2–1 with a clinical finish.
• 85' – Mukhammedzhan Seisen denies Tobol with a reflex save.

Tactical Story

Kaisar manager Vladimir Nikitenko switched from a 4‑2‑3‑1 to a more aggressive 4‑4‑2 at half‑time, pushing Murzayev closer to Turysbek. That change immediately paid dividends as the hosts began winning second balls in midfield. Tobol, by contrast, became passive after the break and struggled to regain their first‑half rhythm.

Standout Players

• Bauyrzhan Turysbek (Kaisar) – Calm penalty and constant running.
• Mirlan Murzayev (Kaisar) – Scored the winner and looked dangerous every time he had the ball.
• Mukhammedzhan Seisen (Kaisar) – Made several crucial saves to preserve the points.

Impact on the Table

The win lifted Kaisar to tenth place in the Kazakhstan Premier League, three points clear of the relegation playoff spot. Tobol slipped to fifth, missing the chance to close the gap on league leaders Astana.