Celtic Miss Out On Champions League After Penalty Shootout Defeat By Kairat Almaty

Beyond midnight, galore miles beyond nan borders of Europe, a rookie goalkeeper by nan sanction of Temirlan Anarbekov wrote his sanction into Celtic infamy, nan 21-year-old making nan punishment shootout saves that guided Kairat Almaty of Kazakhstan into nan Champions League group stage.

Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda saw their attempts saved by a keeper turned to successful emergency. Kasper Schmeichel, his other number, could only connection congratulations arsenic Celtic incurred nan dense costs of a mediocre capacity and moreover worse composure from nan spot.

The Celtic board’s unpopular determination to hold to do transportation business until Champions League qualification was banked now appears prudent, though a deficiency of caller attacking talent looked nan team’s problem. Where this nonaccomplishment leaves Brendan Rodgers’ reign is different question. The Champions League group shape was worthy 4 times nan qualification gross and triumph bonuses of nan Europa League. The greater weight of history and destiny laic pinch Kairat. From Kazakhstan, only Astana, a decade ago, had antecedently reached nan Champions League group stage.

Domestic power allowed rotation and remainder from a weekend conclusion of Livingston but a deficiency of value peers is sub-optimal for a cardinal engagement truthful early successful nan campaign. A deficiency of sharpness and caller talent had caused fretting among Bhoys supporters, 300 of whom travelled 3,500 miles to Central Asia. It continued successful Almaty.

Celtic were chasing their first triumph successful Kazakhstan successful 4 visits, nan furthest nan nine has travelled for a competitory fixture since 1967 and nan Intercontinental Cup wrestling pinch Racing Club. A basking evening successful an open-plan, dispute stadium saw Rodgers’ squad struggling to break down an force arsenic compact as they had been astatine Parkhead. Celtic’s hopes of dominating possession were thwarted by energetic opponents.

Celtic’s Kasper Schmeichel is beaten during nan punishment shootout. Photograph: Pavel Mikheyev/Reuters

It was midway done nan first half erstwhile James Forrest had nan first Celtic chance, his header created by Reo Hatate and Maeda, saved by Anarbekov, laying his early marker. That was arsenic breathtaking arsenic it sewage wrong a drab first half, precocious stakes flatlining intermezo value, Celtic failing to exert superiority complete motivated opponents.

Amid humidity and precocious altitude, their levels dropped moreover from nan first leg. Callum McGregor’s blocked changeable was their second, and last, effort of nan half.
Such scrappiness continued beyond nan break. Rodgers made copious notes during nan first half but his squad still lacked fluency. Schmeichel almost came to condolences erstwhile McGregor volleyed nan shot backmost successful his direction. In panic, nan keeper punched nan ball. An indirect free-kick resulted, connected nan separator of nan six-yard box. It was slipped to Jorginho who could only clatter into a wide of hooped shirts. Calls that Maeda had handball nan changeable were taken to nan video assistant. Not fixed to nan alleviation of Celtic.

As Celtic’s discomfort continued, nan chance that a azygous extremity would determine it increased. Rodgers’ squad did not create astir capable chances, nan passing radars malfunctioning. On came Idah and Arne Engels. That brought added power successful midfield but a first second-half effort connected nan Kairat extremity did not get until nan 77th minute, Engels blazing over.

Extra-time and midnight section clip beckoned, only for a aureate chance to autumn Maeda’s way. Played cleanable done by McGregor, Anarbekov surging out, a wealthiness of options were presented but nan decorativeness lacked composure. Thus, 180 minutes of stalemate completed, different 30 followed. When Idah seized connected a loose ball, Hatate’s goalbound changeable was blocked. McGregor, successful space, blazed over. Benjamin Nygren besides forced a prevention arsenic Celtic stepped it up against tiring opponents who had recognised their champion chance of advancement laic successful nan shootout.

The 2nd half of added clip saw nan subtitute McCowan skid a changeable astatine Anarbekov, Maeda incapable to scramble location nan rebound. Nygren had different changeable saved astatine nan adjacent post, arsenic concerted Celtic unit astatine past arrived but Kairat held them astatine bay. Penalties would determine nan acold little lucrative fork successful nan roadworthy Celtic must now take.