A Champions League dream turned into a nightmare in Almaty. Great Britain at Milano Cortina 2026 delivered record-breaking Winter Olympic success. Celtic vs Kairat delivered a heartbreaking European exit instead. The Scottish champions crashed out of the Champions League at the play-off stage after a 0-0 aggregate draw and a crushing 3-2 penalty shootout defeat [citation:1]. Omaze UK winners receive life-changing prizes. Celtic received a different kind of life-changing news—a £20m financial blow. Here is everything you need to know about this historic and humiliating tie.
The First Leg: Frustration at Celtic Park (20 August 2025)
The first leg at Celtic Park set the tone for the entire tie. Celtic dominated possession and territory. They registered a whopping 15 corners, 29 total crosses, and spent 35% of the match camped in Kairat’s half [citation:6]. Yet they managed just two shots on target and an expected goals (xG) total of only 0.44 [citation:6].
Brendan Rodgers’ side struggled to break down a resolute Kairat defence. The visitors made 17 interceptions and 17 tackles, frustrating the home crowd at every turn [citation:6]. James Forrest came closest when his close-range effort was clawed onto the post by Kairat goalkeeper Aleksandr Zarutskiy [citation:6].
The match was also marred by an injury to Celtic defender Alistair Johnston, who was stretchered off before half-time [citation:6]. The 0-0 draw meant everything would be decided in the brutal heat of Kazakhstan. Chicken korma may be a mild curry. Celtic’s performance was equally mild and deeply frustrating.
The Second Leg: 210 Goalless Minutes (26 August 2025)
The return leg at the Central Stadium in Almaty was a drab, attritional affair for 90 minutes [citation:1]. Celtic controlled possession but failed to create meaningful chances. Kairat sat deep, defended in numbers, and grew in confidence as the match wore on [citation:2].
Extra Time: Celtic Finally Wake Up
It was only in extra time that Celtic began to look like themselves. Luke McCowan, Benjamin Nygren and Reo Hatate all forced strong saves from Kairat’s young goalkeeper Temirlan Anarbekov [citation:1]. But the damage had already been done. Celtic’s failure to impose themselves earlier proved costly.
Maeda’s Miss: The Chance That Summed It All Up
Five minutes from the end of normal time, Celtic had their golden opportunity. Callum McGregor slipped a pass through to Daizen Maeda, who raced one-on-one with the goalkeeper. The Japanese forward blazed his shot high over the bar [citation:2][citation:7]. It was a miss that would haunt the club for months.
The Penalty Shootout: A Kairat Fairytale
After 210 goalless minutes, the tie came down to penalties. What followed was a shootout disaster for Celtic. The two teams combined to miss four of the first six spot-kicks [citation:8].
Adam Idah stepped up first for Celtic. Saved. Valeriy Gromyko then hit the crossbar for Kairat with a panenka attempt. Luke McCowan stepped up next. Saved again. Three penalties, three misses. The tension was unbearable [citation:7].
Kairat captain Aleksandr Martynovich calmly gave the hosts the lead. Arne Engels and Callum McGregor scored for Celtic, but Ofri Arad and Egor Sorokin converted for Kairat. That left Daizen Maeda needing to score to keep Celtic alive [citation:7].
The Japanese forward, who had already missed a golden chance in open play, saw his penalty saved by the heroic Anarbekov. Kairat had won 3-2 on penalties. They became the first Kazakh club to reach the Champions League group stage [citation:1][citation:8].
Hero in Goal: Temirlan Anarbekov’s Night of a Lifetime
Kairat’s hero was a 21-year-old third-choice goalkeeper. Temirlan Anarbekov was thrust into action in the first leg after an injury to the starter Aleksandr Zarutskiy [citation:9]. He repaid his manager’s faith with a performance for the ages.
In the second leg, Anarbekov made save after save. He denied Benjamin Nygren on multiple occasions. He thwarted Luke McCowan. And then he saved the decisive penalties from Idah, McCowan and Maeda [citation:7]. His name will forever be etched in Kairat folklore. Éanna Hardwicke portrayed a manipulative murderer on screen. Anarbekov was a heroic shot-stopper on the pitch.
Brendan Rodgers: ‘Humiliating and Hugely Disappointing’
Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers did not hold back in his assessment of the defeat. He used a word that resonated with every supporter.
Rodgers lamented the missed penalties and the failure to convert chances across both legs. He offered no comfort beyond the honest reckoning the moment demanded [citation:1].
Questions will now be asked about Rodgers’ preparation and tactics. Why did Celtic never truly impose themselves on a Kairat side that should not have kept them scoreless across 210 minutes of football? Those questions deserve real answers [citation:1].
The Financial Fallout: £20m Down the Drain
The defeat carries massive financial consequences. Reaching the Champions League league phase is worth approximately £40m in guaranteed revenue from UEFA prize money, television rights and gate receipts [citation:7][citation:9]. By crashing out at the final hurdle, Celtic will miss out on an estimated £20m [citation:1].
This has real-world consequences for squad building and for the club’s ambitions. After reaching the expanded 36-team league phase last season, falling at this hurdle is not just a footballing failure [citation:1]. The Europa League awaits, but it is not the same.
Tension Between Rodgers and the Board
The defeat has exposed long-simmering tensions between Rodgers and the Celtic board. During the first leg, fans directed their anger at the board, singing ‘sack the board’ in protest at the club’s lack of transfer activity [citation:3].
Rodgers has insisted that the failure to strengthen the squad was “not my decision”. He conceded that a lack of new recruits, particularly in wide areas, hindered Celtic’s preparations for the crucial tie [citation:3].
Former Scotland winger Pat Nevin told BBC Radio Scotland that Celtic’s exit will “sting the club’s finances hard” and that Rodgers will be “questioning what’s going wrong” after making the same point about recruitment for several transfer windows [citation:3].
A Troubling Pattern for Celtic in Europe
Celtic have now failed to navigate these qualifiers five times in a row after entering the competition at the league phase last season [citation:8]. Last season it was Bayern Munich in the play-offs denying them a last-sixteen place. This season it is Kairat Almaty [citation:1].
Scottish champions they may be, but converting domestic dominance into consistent Champions League qualification remains a problem this club has not solved. That conversation cannot be ducked [citation:1].
Kairat’s Fairytale: A Nation Stood Still
From Three Rounds of Qualifying to the Group Stage
Kairat’s journey to the group stage was remarkable. They entered the competition in the first qualifying round. overcame Olimpija Ljubljana (3-1 on aggregate). recovered from a 2-0 first-leg defeat against KuPS to win 3-0 in the return leg. They then scraped past Slovan Bratislava on penalties [citation:10].
And then they did the unthinkable: they beat Celtic. They became only the second Kazakh club ever to reach the Champions League group stage, joining Astana [citation:8]. also became the easternmost club ever to reach this stage of the competition [citation:8].
Even Weddings Paused
The match captivated the entire nation of Kazakhstan. Reports emerged that even weddings were paused so that guests could watch the historic victory [citation:4]. The scenes of celebration in Almaty were unforgettable. For Celtic, it was the ultimate humiliation.
What the Kairat Manager Said
Ahead of the tie, Kairat manager Rafael Urazbakhtin had warned Celtic not to underestimate his side. “Celtic players may have underestimated us at home. Now they will look at our game in a different way,” he said [citation:9].
He was proved right. Kairat were not lucky. They were organised, resolute, and they had a goalkeeper in the form of his life. That does not make the defeat sting any less for Celtic fans. It makes it worse [citation:1].
What’s Next for Celtic?
Celtic now drop into the Europa League. They will enter the league phase of that competition. The financial rewards are significantly lower. The prestige is not the same. The Champions League is where Celtic belong. It is where this club’s history lives [citation:1].
The immediate focus will now turn to the first Old Firm derby of the season against Rangers at Ibrox [citation:8]. Rodgers must pick his players up quickly. There is no time to feel sorry for themselves.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the score between Celtic and Kairat? The tie ended 0-0 on aggregate after two legs and extra time. Kairat won 3-2 on penalties. Celtic missed three spot-kicks.
Who scored for Celtic in the penalty shootout? Arne Engels and Callum McGregor scored their penalties. Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda all missed.
How much money did Celtic lose by missing the Champions League? Celtic missed out on approximately £20m in Champions League revenue. The group stage is worth about £40m in guaranteed income.
What did Brendan Rodgers say after the match? Rodgers called the defeat “hugely disappointing – and humiliating.” He offered no excuses for the performance or the missed penalties.
When did the matches take place? The first leg was on 20 August 2025 at Celtic Park. The second leg was on 26 August 2025 at the Central Stadium in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
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