Kairat advanced to the Champions League group stage after a 0-0 aggregate draw with Celtic and a penalty shootout win. Back-up goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov, 21, saved penalties from Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda to send Kairat through. Anarbekov started because Alexander Zarutsky was injured and tipped a James Forrest header in the first half. The match featured a largely uneventful first half, a late Maeda miss, and a penalty appeal after Kasper Schmeichel punched a Callum McGregor backpass. Anarbekov also blocked attempts in extra time, and Celtic missed Champions League qualification for the first time in four seasons.
Back-up goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov made three saves in a penalty shootout as Kairat edged past Celtic in Almaty to become the second Kazakh club in history to reach the Champions League proper. After a forgettable tie that ended 0-0 on aggregate, 21-year-old Anarbekov stopped spot kicks from Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda to send the reigning Kazakhstan Premier League champions through.
The first half was a drab one amid an electric atmosphere at Almaty's Central Stadium, where most of the crowd of almost 23,000 were hoping to see Kairat emulate Astana's achievement in 2015. Anarbekov, who started because Alexander Zarutsky was injured at Celtic Park, tipped James Forrest's header over the bar in the only incident of note during the first half, which ended with an expected goals tally of 0.06 for Kairat and 0.1 for Celtic.
Collection
[
|
...
]