UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2
Kairat Almaty 3 - 0 FT KuPS
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Futmetrix Verdict
52
FT
Sat, Sep 19
Brighton
3-0
Arsenal
⚡ Intensity
37
⚖️ Balance
17
🏆 Stakes
70
🎲 Upset
80
Brighton dismantle league leaders Arsenal.
Futmetrix Verdict
55
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Gamba Osaka
0-1
Vissel Kobe
⚡ Intensity
40
⚖️ Balance
20
🏆 Stakes
78
🎲 Upset
0
Erik breaks Gamba hearts at 90'
Futmetrix Verdict
100
FT
Sun, Sep 20
Machida Zelvia
2-4
Kashiwa Reysol
⚡ Intensity
100
⚖️ Balance
78
🏆 Stakes
100
🎲 Upset
12
Kashiwa Reysol conquer Machida in away thriller
Match Events
7' Jorginho
9' D. Satpaev (L. Mata)
29' Jorginho (E. Tapalov)
43' V. Gromyko (D. Satpaev)
Doni Arifi 45'+1
HT
50' Ofri Arad
↓ Edmilson Santos ↑Ricardinho 66'
↓ D. Satpaev ↑A. Mrynskiy 66'
67' ↓ D. Arifi ↑J. Voutilainen
67' ↓ M. Toure ↑A. Sadiku
72' Valeriy Gromyko
↓ Jorginho ↑R. Bagdat 74'
76' ↓ N. Hamalainen ↑B. Armah
↓ V. Gromyko ↑A. Sadybekov 81'
83' ↓ J. Luyeye-Lutumba ↑S. Pasanen
84' ↓ P. Pennanen ↑A. Heinonen
90'+6 Aleksandr Zarutskiy
90'+7 Aleksandr Mrynskiy
Bench Giorgi Zaria
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kairat Almaty
Midfielders
A. Hakala
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Saku Savolainen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
I. Cisse
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Miettinen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
N. Hamalainen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jaakko Oksanen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
D. Arifi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
J. Luyeye-Lutumba
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Otto Ruoppi
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Petteri Pennanen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
M. Toure
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
J. Voutilainen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
A. Sadiku
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Arttu Heinonen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Arttu Lötjönen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
B. Armah
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
L. Sahimaa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
S. Pasanen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
KuPS
Midfielders
Aleksandr Zarutskiy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Damir Kasabulat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Egor Sorokin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Martynovich
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luís Mata
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Erkin Tapalov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ofri Arad
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Valeri Gromyko
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Edmilson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jorge Monteiro
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Dastan Satpaev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Temirlan Anarbekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lev Kurgin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Adilet Sadybekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Giorgi Zaria
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Olzhas Baybek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Mrynskiy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Shirobokov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jug Stanojev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luka Gadrani
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ramazan Bagdat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ricardo Viana
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sherkhan Kalmurza
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/22/2025 | KuPS | 2 - 0 | Kairat Almaty | UEFA Champions League | Vare Areena |
07/22/2025
Kairat Almaty Win
KuPS Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Kairat Almaty
KuPS
Kairat Almaty
KuPS
Almaty's Numerical Advantage Becomes a Rout
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 36/100. This wasn't a contest—it was a statement of intent from Kairat Almaty in a Champions League qualifier where one moment of madness transformed the entire complexion of the tie.
Red Card Turns Qualifier on Its Head
Before the match could truly breathe, Giorgi Zaria was sent off for violent conduct in the fifth minute—a catastrophic opening that handed KuPS an uphill battle they never recovered from. The Almaty Central Stadium fell silent momentarily, then erupted. What looked like a potential upset was stillborn. Intensity shifted entirely toward the hosts, who seized control with ruthless efficiency.
Satpaev Sets the Tone, Jorginho Seals the Rout
With a man advantage, D. Satpaev needed just nine minutes to break the deadlock, converting a L. Mata assist into the opening goal. The balance was irreversibly tilted. By the 29th minute, Jorginho doubled the advantage after E. Tapalov found him in space, and the contest became academic. Almaty's numerical superiority translated into pure dominance—three goals in 43 minutes against a shell-shocked Finnish side.
Gromyko's Finish Ends the Debate
V. Gromyko added a third before halftime, assisted by Satpaev, to render the second half a formality. KuPS offered little resistance; their attacking threat evaporated under the weight of defending 11 versus 10 for 85 minutes. This wasn't a tactical masterclass—it was the raw mathematics of professional football. Almaty's season-long struggles (one point from six games) were temporarily forgotten in a display of clinical finishing that suggests their European adventure may yet have teeth.
Key Questions
How did the red card for Giorgi Zaria impact the match?
Zaria's fifth-minute dismissal for violent conduct handed Almaty numerical dominance they exploited ruthlessly. Three goals in 43 minutes made the contest one-sided.
What is the Futmetrix Score?
The Futmetrix Score is our 0-100 verdict on how entertaining a match is. We look at intensity, balance, stakes, and star quality to tell you if it's worth your time.
Archive note: this preview was written after the match was played.
A Knife-Edge Night in Almaty
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 7/100. This second-round qualifier is less about flair and more about survival, as two sides look to navigate the razor-thin margins of Europe's premier competition.
The Setup
Kairat Almaty enters this tie in a precarious position. Their current Form—a dismal run of four losses in their last five outings—suggests a squad struggling for confidence. However, the Stakes of the UEFA Champions League often act as a catalyst for transformation. At the Almaty Central Stadium on July 29, 2025, the Kazakh side must find the defensive Balance that has deserted them in recent weeks. For the visitors, KuPS, the objective is clear: exploit the home side's fragility and secure a foothold before the return leg. Both clubs know that navigating this round is the only way to keep the dream of reaching the top-24 playoff line alive.
Key Battle
In the absence of marquee Stars, this match will be won or lost in the tactical transition. The key battle pits the Kairat Almaty defensive unit against the KuPS counter-attacking structure. Kairat has been vulnerable to quick breaks, conceding heavily in recent domestic fixtures. If the KuPS midfield can isolate the home side’s center-backs, they will find joy. Conversely, if Kairat can maintain a compact shape and control the tempo, they might finally stem the tide of their recent poor results.
Our Prediction
Expect a cagey, high-tension encounter where neither side is willing to overcommit early. Kairat’s lack of confidence will likely lead to a conservative approach, while KuPS will be content to absorb pressure and look for a crucial away goal. The narrative of fine margins suggests a stalemate; we anticipate a 1-1 draw that leaves the tie perfectly poised for the second leg.