Match Report: Tobol Kostanai B 3–3 Ekibastuzets – Kazakhstan Division 1, 18 June 2026

A thrilling six-goal encounter at the Kostanai Central Stadium saw Tobol Kostanai B and Ekibastuzets share the spoils in a pulsating 3–3 draw. The match swung back and forth with drama until the final whistle, leaving both sides rueing missed chances to claim all three points.

Fast Start and Early Goals

The game exploded into life inside the first 15 minutes. Tobol B took the lead in the 8th minute when striker Maksim Zhalmukanov poked home from close range after a goalmouth scramble. But Ekibastuzets responded immediately. Just four minutes later, winger Arman Bekturganov equalised with a stunning curling effort from the edge of the box that beat the goalkeeper at his near post.

Ekibastuzets then turned the game on its head in the 22nd minute. A swift counter-attack ended with midfielder Dmitriy Shevchenko firing low past the advancing keeper to make it 2–1 to the visitors. Tobol B looked stunned but regrouped before half-time.

Second-Half Drama

The home side came flying out of the traps after the break. A 53rd-minute penalty, awarded for a handball in the area, was calmly converted by Vladimir Shirokov to level the scores at 2–2. The momentum swung back to Tobol B, and they completed the turnaround in the 71st minute when substitute Artem Yakovlev headed in from a corner to make it 3–2.

Just when it seemed Tobol B would claim a famous victory, Ekibastuzets struck back. In the 84th minute, a defensive lapse allowed striker Rustam Aliyev to break through on goal, and he finished coolly to make it 3–3. The final minutes were frantic, with both teams pushing for a winner, but neither could find the net.

Key Performers

• Maksim Zhalmukanov (Tobol B) – Scored the opener and was a constant menace in the air.
• Arman Bekturganov (Ekibastuzets) – A spectacular goal and lively down the wing.
• Rustam Aliyev (Ekibastuzets) – Popped up with a crucial late equaliser.

Table Context

The result leaves Tobol Kostanai B in eighth place in the Kazakhstan Division 1 standings, while Ekibastuzets climb to tenth. Both teams remain mid-table in a tightly packed league, with promotion playoffs still a distant possibility if they can string together wins.