Celtic exit Champions League after drab encounter
Kairat 0 - 0 Celtic (The match finished 0-0 on aggregate) Kairat won 3-2 on penalties
Celtic’s Champions League hopes came to a shuddering halt in Kazakhstan as Brendan Rodgers’ side crashed out on penalties to Kairat Almaty, failing to score across 210 minutes of football.
Author | Sean M
Stadium | Ortalyq stadıon
Substitute Adam Idah saw his opening spot-kick saved, while goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov denied Luke McCowan and, crucially, Daizen Maeda to seal a 3-2 shootout win. It was a historic night for Kairat, who reached the group stage for the first time in their history.
Maeda had earlier wasted Celtic’s best chance, blazing over from close range five minutes from the end of normal time after latching on to a Callum McGregor through ball. McCowan also came close in extra time with a fierce strike that was pushed away.
A closer look at what happened
The prelude to this tie had been dominated by criticism of Celtic’s lacklustre first-leg display and the absence of meaningful summer recruitment. There was little in the early stages of the return fixture to suggest matters would be any different. Kasper Schmeichel and the offside flag denied Kairat on the break, while James Forrest’s header forced Anarbekov into a smart save. Beyond that, the first half passed without much attacking conviction from either side.
Rodgers kept faith with his starting XI after the interval, but the pattern persisted. The Celtic side looked uninspired and short of a decisive presence, with the riches of the Champions League slipping further from view.
READ MORE | First leg match report
READ MORE | Head to the Glasgow section of Super Local Sports News for more reaction
There were nervy moments as the game edged towards extra time. A looping McGregor back pass forced Schmeichel into hurried clearances, which gifted Kairat an indirect free-kick inside the area. The effort was fired into Maeda, prompting loud penalty appeals, but referee Maurizio Mariani waved them away.
Extra time brought fatigue for the home side, yet Celtic could not find the composure to take advantage. McCowan’s low drive, well stopped again by Anarbekov, summed up their frustrations.
The outcome was left to penalties. Idah faltered first, McCowan and Maeda also failed, and only Engels and McGregor converted for Celtic. A grim night in Almaty ended with Kairat celebrating a famous victory, while Celtic were left to reflect on another squandered chance at Europe’s top table.
