Celtic’s hopes of qualifying for the UEFA Champions League group stage for a fourth consecutive season were left hanging in the balance after a goalless draw with Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty at a packed Parkhead. Despite the thunderous backing from their home fans, the Hoops lacked precision in attack and now face a daunting second leg in the high altitudes of Eastern Kazakhstan.
Brendan Rodgers’ men started brightly, dominating possession, but once again their inability to turn pressure into goals haunted them. Veteran Kairat defender Alyaksandr Martynovich thought he had silenced the Glasgow crowd early, only for his strike to be ruled out for offside. Celtic, despite their control, went into the break without a single shot on target.
Second-Half Improvement, Same Result
Rodgers reacted at halftime, introducing Yang Hyun-jun, who made an instant impact by setting up James Forrest. Forrest’s strike rattled the post within seconds of the restart, a moment that lifted the crowd but set the tone for a night of near-misses.
Kairat, sharper from their 20 league games and three UCL qualifiers, absorbed the pressure and countered dangerously. A slip from Cameron Carter-Vickers nearly gifted Edmilson a wonder goal from halfway, only for the ball to land on the roof of the net. Celtic’s growing desperation saw Liam Scales head over and Daizen Maeda spurn a golden stoppage-time chance, much to the fury of the home support.
The Kazakh Challenge Awaits
The Hoops now travel to Kazakhstan knowing only victory will do if they are to keep their Champions League journey alive. The altitude and Kairat’s European nous will add to the challenge. For the Kazakh side, this draw represents a historic opportunity to qualify for the UCL main draw for the first time in their history.
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