Kairat Almaty edge Omonia Nicosia on penalties in the Champions League
Reviewed by Elison · Thu 30 Jul 2026UEFA Champions League · 2nd Qualifying Round
Kairat AlmatyFULL-TIME
Omonia NicosiaWednesday 29 July 2026 · 17:00
Our score 1-1MissedHot tip Full-time draw✗ Lost
Kairat Almaty secured a 1-0 victory over Omonia Nicosia in their UEFA Champions League clash, a result that required extra time and a penalty shootout to settle after 120 absorbing minutes. The Kazakh side’s solitary goal in normal time, scored in chaotic circumstances midway through the first half, proved enough to force a shootout that Kairat ultimately won, sending them through at the expense of the Cypriot visitors.
How the Game Unfolded
The 2nd Qualifying Round tie turned on a moment of ill-discipline just past the quarter-hour mark. Oiva Jukkola was booked for Kairat Almaty in the 24th minute, and two minutes later Andronikos Kakoullis was sent off for Omonia Nicosia, leaving the visitors with ten men before the half-hour.
Kairat made two substitutions at the 36th minute, bringing on Edmilson for Damir Kasabulat and Ismail Bekbolat for Lev Kurgin, and within sixty seconds the change proved decisive. In the 37th minute, Edmilson scored, assisted by Luís Mata, to give Kairat a 1-0 lead. Aleksandr Mrynskiy was then booked for Kairat in the 41st minute.
Gustavo Mendonca was booked for Kairat in the 67th minute, and Senou Coulibaly received a yellow card for Omonia in the 68th minute. Both coaches made changes across the second half and into extra time. At 96′, Omonia’s Mateo Marić was booked as the visitors pressed for an equaliser that did not come.
With the score still 1-0 after 120 minutes, the tie went to a penalty shootout. In extra time, Senou Coulibaly was booked a second time in the 111th minute and immediately sent off, reducing Omonia to nine men. The shootout ended with Kairat Almaty winning 6-5 on penalties.
The Numbers
The one goal scored in open play was converted by Edmilson in the 37th minute.
Conclusion
Kairat Almaty’s progression was built on two foundations: clinical exploitation of Omonia’s early red card and resilience across a gruelling 120 minutes. Omonia, reduced to ten men before the half-hour and nine late in extra time, showed considerable fight but ultimately could not overcome the mounting disciplinary problems that defined their evening.
