AKTAU, Kazakhstan (Interstat) — FK Khan Tengri withstood a two-goal performance from Nurmuhammed Islam and defeated Kaspij Aktau II 3-2, using a 56th-minute winner from Arafat Valiev to secure the road result. Kaspij Aktau II struck first when Islam scored in the eighth minute, but Khan Tengri answered through Askar Bizhan in the 15th minute and Bakhtishat Abdullaev in the 29th. Islam pulled Kaspij Aktau II level in first-half stoppage time with his second goal in the 45th minute plus one minute of added time. Valiev then supplied the decisive finish after halftime, giving Khan Tengri the final margin. The home side pressed for another equalizer after falling behind, but Khan Tengri kept its shape and closed out the contest without conceding again. Kaspij Aktau II had the better of the early exchanges, but Khan Tengri’s response changed the tone of the match before the interval. Khan Tengri’s defense then protected the lead through the closing stages as Kaspij Aktau II pushed numbers forward in search of a third goal. The visitors managed the final minutes without allowing a clear equalizer.

Abdullaev was Khan Tengri’s top star with a statline of 90 minutes, one goal and one assist. Nurmuhammed Islam of Kaspij Aktau II finished with 90 minutes and two goals. Askar Bizhan of Khan Tengri posted 90 minutes and one goal, Arafat Valiev of Khan Tengri had 90 minutes and one goal, Darkhan Medelkhan of Khan Tengri recorded 90 minutes and one assist, and Rusal Zhumabay of Kaspij Aktau II had 90 minutes and one assist. Abdullaev’s goal came during Khan Tengri’s first-half rally, and his assist helped set up the attacking sequence that pushed the visitors ahead before the break. Bizhan’s early response steadied Khan Tengri after Kaspij Aktau II had taken the lead, and Valiev’s second-half finish proved to be the difference. Islam carried much of the home side’s threat, scoring in both the opening exchanges and just before halftime, while Zhumabay contributed to the build-up play that created Kaspij Aktau II’s chances. The teams traded momentum through the opening half, with Kaspij Aktau II finding the first breakthrough before Khan Tengri responded with two goals in a 14-minute span. The equalizer just before the break set up a second half that Khan Tengri controlled enough to find the winner, and Kaspij Aktau II could not produce another response after Valiev’s goal.

Khan Tengri improved to two wins, no losses and one draw in the competition, the same record it holds across all competitions. Kaspij Aktau II moved to one win and two losses in the competition and the same mark across all competitions. Khan Tengri entered the match after a 2-1 win over Aktobe II and a 1-1 draw with FC Batyr in its previous competition results. Kaspij Aktau II had lost 5-0 at Taraz FK and beaten FC Astana II 6-0 in its prior competition matches. The result gave Khan Tengri another road victory and left Kaspij Aktau II with a second loss of the campaign. Khan Tengri’s unbeaten start in the competition now includes a win in its most recent outing, while Kaspij Aktau II remains in search of consistency after splitting its first three competition matches. The visitors’ ability to answer each Kaspij Aktau II surge proved central to the outcome, and the final whistle confirmed a narrow but important result for Khan Tengri.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Kaspij Aktau II 2, FK Khan Tengri 2. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Kaspij Aktau II with a 75.1 percent probability to win. Kaspij Aktau II had been installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of -0.5. The total score of 5 went under the over/under line of 3.5.