CELTIC’S Champions League rivals Kairat and Slovan Bratislava fought out a tense first leg of their third round qualifying encounter in Kazakhstan this evening for the right to face the Hoops at Parkhead in a fortnight’s time.
The home side claimed a crucial 1-0 advantage during a dramatic finale to a game that had 13 minutes’ stoppage-time.
The Slovakians, who had midfielder Rahim Ibrahim red-carded in the 65th minute, looked to be holding out for a goalless draw when Kairat netted with a 90th-minute penalty-kick from Dastan Satpaev.
The hosts piled on the pressure against their 10-man opponents as they went in search of a second and they thought they had achieved their aim seven minutes into added-on time.
Satpaev swept in a low shot from outside the box that foxed the Slovan keeper at his left-hand post. The referee signalled a goal before VAR stepped in to rule it out for a home player in an offside position blocking the view of the net minder.
Now the teams will meet for the decider in the Slovakian capital in the second leg on Tuesday.
