ZHESKAZGAN, Kazakhstan (Interstat) — Ulytau Zhezkazgan and visiting Tobyl FK played to a 2-2 draw on Sunday in a Kazakhstan Premier League match that defied pregame projections at Stadion Metallurg.

The result sees both clubs open their 2025 domestic campaigns with a single point, as each team’s record moved to 0 wins, 0 losses, and 1 draw in the league standings. The draw also represents the first result of the season for both sides across all competitions.

The match outcome was a surprise according to pregame analytics from Interstat, whose ELO system had given Ulytau Zhezkazgan a 74.50 percent probability of securing a victory. Furthermore, the organization’s game simulator had projected a narrow 2-1 win for the visiting Tobyl FK side, a forecast that proved incorrect as the home team fought back to level the score.

The game’s scoring opened in the 34th minute when Tobyl FK’s Henrique Devens found the net, giving the visitors an early advantage. The lead was short-lived, however, as Ulytau Zhezkazgan responded just five minutes later. Jovan Pajović scored in the 39th minute to bring the home side level before the halftime break.

The second half saw Tobyl FK reclaim the lead, but the specific scorer of their second goal was not immediately available from the official match data. Ulytau Zhezkazgan mounted a second comeback, netting the equalizer to finalize the 2-2 scoreline. The identity of the scorer for the home team’s second goal was also not specified in the provided information.

The shared points leave both teams in the middle of the Premier League table as the young season begins. The intense, back-and-forth nature of the contest, which featured two lead changes and two equalizers, provided a compelling start to the league season for the fans in attendance.

Both clubs will look to secure their first victory of the season in their next league fixtures.