Kairat Vs Celtic Highlights, UEFA Champions League Playoff: KAI 0-0 CEL; Bhoys Knocked Out In Penalties

Greetings and welcome to everyone joining us this Tuesday night for a crucial qualifying match between Kazakh club Kairat and Scottish giants Celtic. We will bring to you the build-up as well as live updates from the second leg of the UEFA Champions League playoff tie.

The match kicks off at 10:15pm IST. The Kairat vs Celtic, UEFA Champions League 2025-26 qualifying playoff second leg football match will be telecast on the Sony Sports Ten 2 SD and HD TV channels in India and live streamed on the SonyLIV app and website in the country. Fans from Kazakhstan can watch it on qazsporttv.kz and Qazsport, and those in Great Britain on Amazon Prime Video, tabii.

As many as six changes in Celtic's side, including the return of captain Callum McGregor. This is how the Bhoys line up for tonight's match:

Kairat: Anarbekov, Luis Mata, Jorginho, Martynovich, Arad, D Glazer, Tapalov, Mrynskiy, Gromyko, Sorokin, Ricardinho.

Substitutes: Reimov, Kalmurza, Kassabulat, Kurgin, Sadybekov, Baibek, Shirobokov, Stanojev, Gadrani, Bekbolat, Tuyakbayev, Bagdat.

The high-stakes match gets underway at Almaty Ortalyk Stadium. Kairat kicking from left to right and Celtic from right to left in the first half. Remember that a winner in tonight's match wins the tie and advances to the Champions League proper.

Kairat have made the more enterprising start, while Celtic are employing a wait-and-watch approach. The Bhoys appear to be nervy in the winner-takes-all clash, losing possession repeatedly. The hosts, on the other hand, are readily pushing the ball forward at every opportunity.

A lot better now from Celtic, who are creating chances and asking questions of the Kairat defence. James Forrest heads one powerfully towards the home team's goal but their custodian Temirlan Anarbekov palms it over superbly in the 24th minute.

This match has that typical scrappy feel to it, wherein you reckon that one goal would clinch it for whichever side manages to get it. The setpieces are not leading to much and the minutes are ticking down to half-time.

The first half comes to an end with neither side rising to the occasion the way it can, yet. If it remains goalless in the second half too, we would be headed for extra time and penalties.

The lemon break ends and the teams return for the second half. Celtic now attacking from left to right and Kairat from right to left. Let's see if the interval helps spice up the match, which has suffered from a lack of incisive edge so far.

Drama in Almaty! Kasper Schmeichel is forced to punch Celtic captain Callum McGregor's backpass from his goal-line in the 51st minute and an indirect free-kick is awarded, giving Kairat a massive chance to open scoring.

After a short roll-back, the resulting shot is blocked by by Daizen Maeda and the home team appeals desperately for a handball penalty. But the referee does not see it and play continues.

Still no goal in Almaty, which means the tie has now seen more than 160 minutes of football without either side scoring. Celtic were the favourites going into the match, and are the ones who would be feeling more pressure in these last 20 minutes heading into full-time.

Time ticking by; we are into the 85th minute of regulation time and a winning goal is still not in sight. Extra time appears imminent, unless either side can create something magical.

As suspected, neither side can find that clinical finish in the final third, and despite several fervent attempts in the dying moments, we are goalless after regulation time. The match thus heads into added extra time, a 30-minute period split into two halves.

Extra time gets underway. Tired legs or not, the two teams have to endure at least another 30 minutes of play, and if no goals there, penalties as well. Kairat kicking from left to right and Celtic from right to left in the first period.

The first period ends, surprise-surprise, goalless. Kairat really exhausted, so are Celtic, but 15 more minutes need to be negotiated. Let's see who blinks first. It's two minutes to midnight in Almaty.

Celtic knocking on the door but not finding a way through in the second period of extra time. Kairat just about holding on. Two minutes to go for penalties, if there is no goal that is.

The second period ends, much to the relief of many zapped players on both sides. No goal after 120 minutes plus the 90 of the first leg, and we are headed for a penalty shootout.

Off we go. Adam Idah starts Celtic off. His penalty is not a great one and young Temirlan Anarbekov saves it, diving to his right.

Anarbekov has done it for Kairat! The 21-year-old stand-in goalkeeper pulls off three saves out of five Celtic penalties and propels the Kazakh side into their maiden Champions League appearance, and that too in front of a raucous home crowd. The Scottish giants are stunned, and in utter disbelief.

Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda missed for Celtic, which spelled their doom. Skipper Callum McGregor and Arne Engels scored in vain, while only Valeri Gromyko could not find the back of the net for the hosts. Captain Aleksandr Martynovich, Ofri Arad and Egor Sorokin all converted to script Kairat's historic UCL berth.

Two Champions League qualifying playoff games are currently live. Pafos trail 0-1 in the second leg against Red Star Belgrade, with the aggregate now at 2-2. Elsewhere, Sturm Graz have drawn level with Bodo/Glimt but are behind by a massive 1-6 margin on aggregate.

Meanwhile, the draw for UEFA Champions League 2025-26 will be held in Monaco on Thursday, August 28. By then, all the qualifying games would have ended and we would know who all have joined the likes of Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City and reigning champions Paris Saint-Germain in the league phase.