The 118th FIFA nation brought down the 18th. Kazakhstan, which has never participated in a major competition, suffered Denmark, semi-finalist of Euro 2021, its first defeat in the qualifying phase for Euro 2024 (3-2) this Sunday.
The Danes had however started their match perfectly in Astana and their new star striker, Rasmus Höjlund, split a double (21st and 36th). But the prowess of the young player (20 years old), who scored his fourth and fifth goals there in two matches, after his hat-trick against Finland, was not enough to shelter his people. The Kazakhs set the Astana Arena on fire late in the game.
Two goals in three minutes
From the 70th, the first alert was given by Abzal Beisebekov. The FC Astana player forces Kasper Schmeichel to deploy. The OGC Nice goalkeeper is even forced to push the ball on his post. But three minutes later the alert turns into a goal on a penalty that Baktiyor Zainutdinov puts in the back of the net.
Hope began to be reborn and Askhat Tagybergen capsized the stadium with a shot from 35 meters which was lodged in the right corner (86th). The Kazakh captain opens his goal counter in selection at 32 years old. Despite the performance that a snatch draw against Denmark would have constituted, the players in yellow will push to the end. A cross from Yann Vorogovski, who plays in the Belgian second division, lands to the millimeter on the head of Abat Aimbetov. The FC Astana player rises to the far post to place the ball in the skylight again (89th).
The two countries now have the same number of points (3) in Group H of qualifying for Euro 2024. Slovenia, who beat Kazakhstan on the first day, could take off in the event of a victory against Saint -Marin this Sunday (6 p.m.).