Okzhetpes Bounce Back with Commanding 2-0 Victory Over Zhetysu

In a crucial Kazakhstan Premier League encounter on 18 July 2026, Okzhetpes delivered a dominant home performance to defeat FC Zhetysu Taldykorgan 2-0 at the Okzhetpes Stadium in Kokshetau. The result lifted the home side up the standings and underlined their growing confidence under the mid-season sun.

First‑Half Breakthrough

The deadlock was broken in the 32nd minute when Okzhetpes midfielder Timur Muldin found space on the edge of the box and curled a precise shot past Zhetysu goalkeeper Stanislav Pavlov. The goal came after sustained pressure from the hosts, who had already seen a header from captain Ruslan Esimov crash against the crossbar ten minutes earlier. Muldin’s strike was his fourth of the campaign and sparked celebrations among the 4,200‑strong home crowd.

Second‑Half Control

Zhetysu attempted to respond after the interval, pushing forward through winger Alikhan Shabdenov, but Okzhetpes’ defensive organisation, led by centre‑back Yevgeny Nazarov, kept the visitors at bay. The decisive moment arrived in the 68th minute when substitute forward Aslan Kenzhebekov latched onto a through ball from Andrey Pasechnik and slotted coolly past Pavlov to double the lead. Kenzhebekov, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes, made an immediate impact.

Standings Implications

• Okzhetpes: The win moved them to 22 points from 15 matches, climbing to 7th place and narrowing the gap to the top six.
• Zhetysu: Remain in 10th position with 16 points, now five points above the relegation zone but with a worrying run of three defeats in their last four outings.

Key Stats & Records

• Okzhetpes have now lost only once at home this season – a 1‑0 defeat to league leaders Astana in June.
• Zhetysu have failed to score in three of their last five away matches, a trend that will concern head coach Dmitriy Ogay.
• The clean sheet was Okzhetpes’ fifth of the campaign, the third best defensive record in the Kazakhstan Premier League.

Looking Ahead

Okzhetpes will travel to Kairat Almaty next week, while Zhetysu return home to host Tobol Kostanay as they seek to arrest their slide. For the Kokshetau side, this comprehensive performance suggests they are capable of pushing for a top‑half finish in the 2026 season.