KOKSHETAU, Kazakhstan (Interstat) — Vladislav Vassiljev scored in the 61st minute and Okzhetpes held on for a 1-0 victory over Kyzylzhar at Stadion Oqjetpes on Saturday. The home side secured its first win in the competition while handing the visiting side its first loss. Okzhetpes improved to 1-1 in the competition and 1-1 across all competitions, while Kyzylzhar also moved to 1-1 in the competition and 1-1 overall. The match was a tight affair decided by a single second-half goal. The single goal proved enough for the hosts.

The opening hour passed without a goal as the teams traded spells of possession in midfield and probed for an opening. Neither side recorded a breakthrough in the first half, and the game remained scoreless at the interval. Okzhetpes broke through when Vassiljev finished off a move set up by Zhansultan Mukhametkhanov. Mukhametkhanov was credited with the assist and finished with 62 minutes played before Okzhetpes made a change in the 62nd minute. Vassiljev played the full 90 minutes and supplied the decisive goal, and his statline closed at 90 minutes with one goal. The goal changed the shape of the contest, forcing Kyzylzhar to chase an equalizer over the final half-hour. Vassiljev’s finish was the only goal of the game. The assist was Mukhametkhanov’s key contribution.

Kyzylzhar sought an equalizer after the break but could not find the final pass or shot to break through. Urosevic S. was booked for Kyzylzhar in the 72nd minute. Okzhetpes’ Nurgaliyev E. received a yellow card in the 77th, and Umarov S. was booked in the 80th. Kyzylzhar’s Sokolenko A. also went into the book in the 86th minute as the visitors’ frustration grew. Okzhetpes defended its narrow lead with composure in the closing stages and kept Kyzylzhar from finding a response. The yellow cards added to the tension late in the match, but Okzhetpes maintained its advantage through the final whistle. Kyzylzhar’s attempts to level the match increased after the goal, but Okzhetpes held firm at the back. The visitors could not find an equalizer before the final whistle. Okzhetpes’ lead remained intact through the closing minutes.

Okzhetpes made its first substitution in the 46th minute with Zhangylyshbay T. The hosts then had Mukanov S. and Mukhametkhanov Z. listed in the 62nd minute. Kyzylzhar followed with Abiken A. in the 63rd. In the 76th minute, Kyzylzhar had Bahoken S. and Gubarev N. in its substitution sequence, while Okzhetpes had Abdumannonov B. Kyzylzhar’s Makarenko E. was listed in the 81st, and Okzhetpes’ Borodin D. came in second-half stoppage time. The changes disrupted the flow of the match but did not alter the scoreline. Okzhetpes used its bench to protect the lead, while Kyzylzhar refreshed its attacking options in search of a late equalizer. Okzhetpes made five substitutions in all, while Kyzylzhar made four.

The win moved Okzhetpes to 1-1 in the competition and 1-1 across all competitions. Kyzylzhar also stands 1-1 in the competition and 1-1 overall. Kyzylzhar had won 2-0 against Ertis FK in its previous match, while Okzhetpes had lost 2-0 at Ulytau FK. Both teams entered the match looking to stabilize their early-season form, and the result left them with matching records. Okzhetpes’ home victory gave it a measure of recovery after the road defeat, while Kyzylzhar could not build on its previous win. The teams now share identical competition and overall records. The result kept both sides on the same mark after two matches. Okzhetpes’ win came after a road loss, while Kyzylzhar’s defeat followed a road victory.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kyzylzhar 2, Okzhetpes 1. Its ELO system had projected Okzhetpes with an 80.9 percent probability to win.