UEFA Champions League Qualifying Round 2
Kairat Almaty 1 - 0 PEN 6-5 Omonia Nicosia
Match Statistics
Possession
Shots
Shots on Target
Corners
Yellow Cards
Red Cards
Match Events
24' Oiva Jukkola
Andronikos Kakoullis 26'
36' ↓ Damir Kasabulat ↑Edmilson
36' ↓ Lev Kurgin ↑Ismail Bekbolat
37' Edmilson (Luís Mata)
HT
↓ Mihlali Mayambela ↑Loïs Diony 65'
↓ Muamer Tanković ↑Tasos Chatzigiovanis 65'
67' Gustavo Mendonca
Senou Coulibaly 68'
72' ↓ Gustavo Mendonca ↑Olzhas Baibek
72' ↓ Ismail Bekbolat ↑Azamat Tuyakbayev
↓ Ewandro Costa ↑Ioannis Kousoulos 76'
↓ Stefan Simic ↑Andreas Christou 76'
80' ↓ Oiva Jukkola ↑Mansur Birkurmanov
Mateo Marić 96'
102' ↓ Lucas Áfrico ↑Aleksandr Shirobokov
Senou Coulibaly 111'
Senou Coulibaly 111'
↓ Loïs Diony ↑Angelos Neophytou 114'
FT
Player Cards
Our take on every player in this match
Kairat Almaty
Goalkeepers
Temirlan Anarbekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Aleksandr Mrynskiy
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Martynovich
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lucas Áfrico
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Luís Mata
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Lev Kurgin
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Damir Kasabulat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Gustavo Mendonca
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Oiva Jukkola
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jaakko Oksanen
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Marc Gual
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Danila Buch
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Sherkhan Kalmurza
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Aleksandr Shirobokov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Erkin Tapalov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Adlan Nurgaliev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Daniyar Tashpulatov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Olzhas Baibek
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Azamat Tuyakbayev
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Adilet Sadybekov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Edmilson
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ismail Bekbolat
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mansur Birkurmanov
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Omonia Nicosia
Goalkeepers
Fabiano
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Defenders
Stefan Simic
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Senou Coulibaly
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Nikolas Panagiotou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jure Balkovec
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Midfielders
Ewandro Costa
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Panagiotis Andreou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mateo Marić
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Mihlali Mayambela
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Muamer Tanković
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Forwards
Andronikos Kakoullis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
BENCH
Francis Uzoho
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Pantelis Michail
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Christos Konstantinidis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Christoforou Panagiotis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Tasos Chatzigiovanis
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Andreas Christou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Ioannis Kousoulos
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Carel Eiting
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Jaden Montnor
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Loïs Diony
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Angelos Neophytou
👻 Invisible Nothing to note
Head to Head
| Date | Home | Score | Away | Competition | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 07/22/2026 | Omonia Nicosia | 1 - 0 | Kairat Almaty | UEFA Champions League | GSP Stadium |
| 12/09/2021 | Omonia Nicosia | 0 - 0 | Kairat Almaty | UEFA Europa Conference League | Neo GSP |
| 09/16/2021 | Kairat Almaty | 0 - 0 | Omonia Nicosia | UEFA Europa Conference League | Ortalıq Stadion |
07/22/2026
12/09/2021
09/16/2021
Kairat Almaty Win
Omonia Nicosia Win
Draw
Match previews and recaps to help you decide which games are worth watching
Win Probability
Futmetrix AI estimate
Tension at Central Stadium: Kairat Survive Nine-Man Omonia's Defensive Masterclass
Highly Entertaining Futmetrix Score: 73/100. Our verdict: A relentless attacking siege finally broke through nine-man Omonia's heroic resistance, culminating in a breathless sudden-death penalty shootout.
The Siege Commences
The early exchanges at Central Stadium were tense, but the entire complexion of this vital Champions League qualifier changed in an instant. Omonia's game plan shattered when A. Kakoullis saw a straight red for roughing in the 26th minute. The Intensity spiked immediately as Kairat Almaty grabbed the tie by the scruff of the neck. Smelling blood in the water, Edmilson found the crucial breakthrough in the 37th minute, finishing brilliantly after being fed by L. Mata. From that moment onward, the hosts dominated possession with a suffocating 70% share of the ball. They turned the pitch into an absolute shooting gallery, racking up 26 attempts to Omonia's mere two. The local supporters roared their approval as their team piled on the pressure, winning 13 corners to further squeeze the visitors into their own penalty box.
The Nine-Man Stand
Despite facing an endless barrage, Kairat lacked the clinical sniper's edge to put the match to bed in normal time. Omonia's goalkeeper became a one-man wall, pulling off nine incredible saves to miraculously keep his team alive in the fixture. The Stakes grew increasingly unbearable as the match bled into a grinding, exhausted period of extra time. Clinging on by their fingertips, Omonia's impossible task became even harder when S. Coulibaly received their second red card in the 111th minute. Defending with just nine men against an attacking avalanche, the visitors entirely abandoned any offensive ambition. Every block and tactical foul was cheered like a goal by the beleaguered away bench as they somehow survived to force the ultimate lottery.
Sudden Death Drama
The shootout tested the absolute limits of Balance, as both sides felt the crushing weight of European progression. Edmilson stepped up first and confidently dispatched his kick. The narrative twisted wildly when J. Balkovec missed for Omonia Nicosia, only for O. Baybek to immediately fail to capitalize for Kairat. A. Martynovich and A. Tuyakbaev held their nerve during the marathon before the climax arrived in sudden death. In the crucial seventh round, M. Birkurmanov confidently slammed his penalty home for the hosts, shifting all the pressure onto N. Panagiotou. The tension finally proved too much for the Cypriot defender, whose resulting miss sparked wild celebrations in Almaty, sealing Kairat's 6-5 shootout triumph.
Key Questions
How did the red card for A. Kakoullis impact the match?
It forced Omonia into a desperate defensive block, allowing Kairat to dominate 70% of possession and rack up 26 total shots.
Was the penalty miss by N. Panagiotou the turning point?
Yes. After M. Birkurmanov scored in sudden death, Panagiotou's crucial miss ultimately sealed the shootout 6-5 in Kairat's favor.
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.
European Dreams on the Line in Kazakhstan
Skip It Futmetrix Score: 27/100. A gritty qualifying clash for the purists, where survival completely outweighs spectacle.
The Setup
The lights at Almaty Central Stadium shine on July 29, 2026, for a quintessential 2nd Qualifying Round tie. This is not a night for expansive football. Our Stakes evaluation shows moderate pressure—neither side wants to make the fatal error that ends their Champions League campaign before it truly begins. Kairat Almaty bring a solid midfield core featuring D. Satpaev, V. Gromyko, and O. Arad, who must dictate the tempo. Omonia Nicosia arrive fully aware of the hostile environment, bringing a pragmatic game plan. Low Stars ratings indicate a distinct lack of marquee names, meaning discipline and collective effort will decide the outcome. With a modest Form profile for both camps, expect a cagey chess match.
Key Battle
This tie hinges on a classic unit-vs-unit clash: Kairat Almaty's creative midfield trio against Omonia Nicosia's entrenched defensive block. The hosts need to find passing lanes through a stubborn low block. The visitors will rely on structural discipline, daring the Kazakh side to overcommit and leave gaps for the counter.
Our Prediction
Kairat Almaty secure a narrow 1-0 victory. An evenly matched Balance rating points to fine margins. The hosts will dominate possession, eventually forcing a second-half breakthrough via a set piece to take a slender advantage into the second leg.