Celtic’s Champions League hopes were extinguished in Kazakhstan as Brendan Rodgers’ side fell to a penalty shootout defeat against Kairat Almaty following a turgid 0-0 draw over two legs.
The match was a scrappy, slow-burning affair played out on a dreadful surface at the Almaty Central Stadium. While Celtic controlled possession for large spells, they failed to turn that dominance into clear-cut chances. When openings did arise, they were either wasted or met by firm goalkeeping from the home side.
Maeda had the best chance of the night, breaking clear late on but failing to control the ball, while McCowan and Hatate also came close during extra time. Despite flashes of promise, the Hoops lacked conviction in the final third and couldn’t find a way past a stubborn Kairat side who offered little going forward themselves.
Brendan Rodgers was left ruing a flat performance and missed opportunities. The Celtic boss, speaking post-match, didn’t hide his frustration after watching his side tumble out of Europe before the league phase once again.
He said: (Amazon Prime Video Sport), “I thought overall it was a poor game.
“The pitch made it awful. We were defensively okay but couldn’t quite make the breakthrough.
“We had good chances, especially in the second half and in extra-time we had opportunities to win it. When it goes to penalties anything can happen.
“Overall, very disappointed.”
The surface certainly played a part, but Rodgers will know the result speaks to wider issues. Celtic lacked precision in the final third and looked short of inspiration on the flanks. With the summer window nearing its end, questions will again be asked about the club’s readiness for the Champions League qualifiers.
Celtic’s penalty performance added insult to injury. Misses from Maeda, Idah and McCowan handed Kairat the initiative, and even a composed strike from McGregor wasn’t enough to turn the tide. This is the third time in four seasons the Hoops have failed to reach the league phase.
For all the possession and patient build-up, there was little to show. Players like Hatate and Forrest showed flickers, but the decisive moments never came. The shootout simply underlined a night where confidence and clinical edge were sorely lacking.
Rodgers must now turn his focus to the domestic front and the Europa League. But for a club of Celtic’s size and ambition, another early Champions League exit will sting, and questions over summer recruitment and European preparedness won’t go away.
