KOKSHETAU, Kazakhstan (Interstat) — Kyzyl-Zhar opened its domestic campaign with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ordabasy in a Kazakhstan Premier League match on Sunday, overcoming an early deficit and a late surge from the visitors.

The Week 11 contest, played at Stadion Jastar, saw the home side rally from a goal down in the first half before securing the win, which was briefly threatened by a stoppage-time goal from Ordabasy defender Bernardo Matić.

The match began contrary to pregame projections. Data firm Interstat’s game simulator had predicted a 1-0 win for Ordabasy, and its ELO rating system gave the visiting side a 56 percent probability of victory. Ordabasy seemed to justify that favoritism early, striking first in the 9th minute through forward Hossein Shahabi.

The lead was short-lived. Just 12 minutes later, Kyzyl-Zhar’s Reza Shekari found the equalizer, leveling the score at 1-1 in the 21st minute. The match then tilted decisively in the home side’s favor before halftime when Mehdi Sharifi put Kyzyl-Zhar ahead in the 65th minute, making it 2-1.

The second half grew increasingly tense, with discipline fraying in the final minutes. Ordabasy’s Sergiy Maliy received a yellow card in the 10th minute, but the bulk of the cautions came late. Ordabasy’s Askhat Tagybergen was booked in the 86th minute, followed swiftly by a yellow for Kyzyl-Zhar’s Bekzat Shadmanov in the 87th.

Deep into added time, Ordabasy mounted a final challenge. In the third minute of stoppage time, Croatian defender Bernardo Matić, listed at 6-foot-4 and 185 pounds, powered in a goal to pull his team within one. The effort came too late, however, as Kyzyl-Zhar saw out the remaining moments to claim the full three points.

The result provides an immediate boost to Kyzyl-Zhar’s league standing, opening their Premier League season with a win and moving their record to 1-0-0. For Ordabasy, the loss marks a disappointing start to their league campaign, beginning the season at 0-1-0. Both teams’ records across all competitions mirror their results from this opening fixture.