Preview: Kazakhstan vs. Moldova – prediction, team news, lineups

Kazakhstan maintain a 2-1 benefit going into the second leg of their Nations League C relegation playoff towards Moldova.

The Hawks got here from behind within the first leg in Chisinau, as Sergei Maliy‘s header and an personal aim from Veaceslav Posmac cancelled out Ion Nicolaescu‘s opener.

Match preview

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Each nations have been promoted from Nations League D in 2019 and now discover themselves battling to keep away from re-joining Europe’s minnows.

Thursday’s first leg was a primary recreation in cost for Kazakhstan interim supervisor Andrei Karpovich, who’s a former captain of the nationwide crew and his nation’s fifth-most capped participant of all time.

Karpovich changed Talgat Baysufinov, who solely lasted little over a 12 months on the helm after succeeding Michal Bilek who departed after Kazakhstan completed backside of Group 4 in Nations League C with one win from six video games.

Their solely victory within the group got here within the opening fixture towards Lithuania in September 2020 they usually then went with no aggressive win till the primary leg of this tie.

Kazakhstan, who’re ranked one hundred and twentieth on the earth, completed backside of their World Cup qualifying group, drawing twice with Euro 2020 quarter-finalists Ukraine but additionally shedding 8-0 away in France.

The transcontinental nation final received a aggressive dwelling fixture in June 2019, when San Marino have been the guests to Nur-Sultan.

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Moldova are the fourth-lowest ranked nation in Europe in 181st and are at the moment on a run of 10 successive defeats.

They haven’t received a aggressive recreation since June 2019 and actually haven’t crushed a aspect apart from San Marino or Andorra in a aggressive fixture since triumphing over Montenegro in 2013.

Like his reverse quantity, supervisor Serghei Clescenco is a former worldwide and his nation’s fifth-most capped participant. He’s additionally Moldova’s all-time high scorer with 11 objectives. Clescenco’s son Nicky has three caps however is just not within the squad for this tie.

The 49-year-old was appointed in December, succeeding Roberto Bordin who had changed Engin Firat lower than a 12 months earlier. Firat was the person who oversaw Moldova’s unsuccessful Nations League C marketing campaign as they picked up only one level from six matches.

Moldova have been additionally on the unsuitable finish of an 8-0 thrashing in World Cup qualifying final 12 months as they have been trounced by Denmark on the way in which to ending backside of their group with just one level from 10 video games.

Kazakhstan Nations League kind:

Kazakhstan kind (all competitions):

Moldova Nations League kind:

Moldova kind (all competitions):

Workforce Information

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Kazakhstan midfielder Aybol Abiken will likely be pushing for a begin after coming off the bench at halftime within the first leg and serving to swing the sport in his nation’s favour.

Striker Baktiyar Zaynutdinov is with no aim in his final three aggressive worldwide appearances; he has by no means gone 4 with out scoring since his first such recreation in June 2018.

Radu Ginsari, the participant within the Moldova squad with essentially the most objectives for his nation (seven), is anticipated to begin after solely making the bench on Thursday.

If Serghei Clescenco desires to name on expertise on this time of want, he may flip to 34-year-old 73-cap defender Igor Armas, who retired from worldwide soccer final 12 months earlier than returning this month. He was not included within the matchday squad within the first leg.

Kazakhstan potential beginning lineup:
Shatskiy; Bystrov, Alip, Maliy, Marochkin, Suyumbaev; Abiken, Tagybergen; Vasiljev; Zaynutdinov, Shchyotkin

Moldova potential beginning lineup:
Namasco; Posmac, Bolohan, Dumbravanu; Revenco, Ionita, Rata, Reabciuk; Caimacov, Ginsari; Nicolaescu

We are saying: Kazakhstan 1-0 Moldova

With Kazakhstan holding dwelling benefit and the lead from the primary leg, it might be a giant shock to see Moldova mount a comeback provided that they’ve misplaced their final 10 matches. Kazakhstan ought to set as much as defend their lead however might also nick one other aim.

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