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Kairat Almaty stun Celtic on penalties.
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They reach their first Champions League group stage.
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It makes them only the second Kazakh club after Astana.
Kairat Almaty stunned Celtic after a tense tie, beating the Scottish side 3–2 on penalties in Almaty following two goalless legs.
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The Kazakh club seized the moment and booked their first-ever Champions League group-stage place.
Celtic controlled much of the ball and fired 22 shots across the tie, yet only eight hit the target.
Still, they could not break down a stubborn Kairat defence.
In extra time Kairat’s 21-year-old goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov denied Luke McCowan, then sprang to life in the shootout with the vital saves that decided the tie.
Celtic missed three penalties, including the decisive effort from Daizen Maeda, while Kairat’s takers kept their composure and converted when it mattered.
The momentum swung when Anarbekov made his key stops, and Kairat punished Celtic’s missed chances.
Manager Brendan Rodgers summed up the mood:
“We worked hard but lacked the breakthrough. Once it goes to penalties, anything can happen. We have to settle for the Europa League.”
He also pointed to missed chances, transfer delays and a poor pitch as contributing factors.
The victory is historic for Kairat, who are making their debut Champions League appearance and only the second Kazakh team to do so after Astana in 2015.
Looking ahead, Kairat Almaty stun Celtic will boost the club’s profile, draw new revenue and shine a fresh spotlight on Kazakh football, while Celtic must act fast to fix finishing and squad issues.
