Akzhaiyk 3 - 4 Borussia (387174878)

Dark skies made the crowd of 44989 at Isatay Taimanuly a little nervous, but the rain held off. Ugo Angiolini was the appointed referee with assistance provided by Pius Zülli and Paul Rendler. Akzhaiyk tactics involved an interesting 3-4-3 combination. The following players had been chosen: Kazybaev - Dulatov, Timashev, Sarybaev - Trabace, Temirgaliev, Zhabaspaev, Kozhakhmetov - Kunanbayev, Kayruk, Kadirsizov.

Borussia had chosen a strategic 3-5-2 formation. Starters: Lehtiö - Koks, Mayzlish, Mathiasson - Turbač, Kuess-Huettenegger, Dohmeyer, Nicoară, Gökay - Wilkanowski, Veiter.

13 minutes into the game, W. Wilkanowski had a great chance to put his team ahead, but his kick from the left went wide. Given a free kick in a difficult position after 23 minutes, Akzhaiyk tried a variation that they had practised in training. The kick was sent into the area just in front of the keeper. However, the defence were on their toes and allowed no space for a finish. With 28 minutes played, the visitors broke through on the right after some poor defending. G. Gökay put the ball away for 0 - 1. After 30 minutes of play, M. Zhabaspaev evened things up for Akzhaiyk with an impressive goal coming up the middle. 1 - 1. Borussia took the lead 33 minutes into the game, making the score 1 - 2 after some elegant movement down the middle. V. Nicoară was the scorer. The teams went for the halftime break at 1 - 2. Borussia claimed to have seen most of the ball, and the statistics agreed with them - possession being 60 percent.

After 59 minutes, E. Mayzlish made a complete fool of himself when he presented the ball to the feet of A. Kayruk who smashed it into the open goal for Akzhaiyk. 2 - 2. They were singing the praises of A. Kayruk 75 minutes into the match after his speculative chip from the middle of the penalty box found its way over the visitors' keeper to make the score 3 - 2 to Akzhaiyk. Borussia levelled the score after 76 minutes to make it 3 - 3, as M. Kuess-Huettenegger struck home after a fine midfield combination through the centre, which left him completely unmarked. The visiting F. Veiter was booed thoroughly by the home crowd 77 minutes into the game, after he broke through the middle and scored, resulting in the visitors taking the lead. 3 - 4 was the score. The visitors almost increased their lead after 79 minutes when a sweetly hit free kick looked like it was heading for the top corner. However the keeper managed to get a fingertip to it, sending it over the bar. Sensing defeat in the air, the Akzhaiyk manager directed D. Temirgaliev and Y. Kozhakhmetov to change positions with each other. This was 83 minutes into the match. As the game started to slip away for Akzhaiyk, the manager decided to change the tactical approach. After 83 minutes, Akzhaiyk used a short break in the game to take new instructions from their coach. Unhappy with the result so far in the game, the Akzhaiyk manager used a brief break in play after 83 minutes to give the players new directives. The Akzhaiyk coach was desperate to reverse his team's fortunes in the game, and ordered his team to change strategy. Borussia enjoyed most of the ball, as they maintained 61 percent of possession.

Most important Akzhaiyk player was M. Zhabaspaev. D. Temirgaliev was a disappointment, however. The most dominating Borussia player was without a doubt W. Wilkanowski. However, R. Turbač made a disastrous appearance. The match ends 3 - 4.