Kairat Almaty bat de justesse Sutjeska lors des qualifications de la Ligue des champions

Kairat Almaty made the perfect start to their Champions League qualifying campaign under the Almaty lights, taking on Montenegrin visitors FK Sutjeska Nikšić in what proved to be a tightly contested affair. The home side controlled much of the opening exchanges, with the crowd providing a wall of noise behind their team as they pressed for an early breakthrough. Sutjeska came to defend and looked to exploit spaces on the counter, but the early momentum belonged firmly to the Kazakhstani outfit.

The opening goal came from Kairat, giving the hosts the platform to build from. Sutjeska then managed to find their way back into the game with an equaliser that set up a tense second half. The visitors grew in confidence after drawing level, and the match became increasingly competitive as both teams pushed for the decisive goal. The disciplinary picture heated up in the first half, with J. Čađenović receiving a yellow card in the 35th minute and A. Golubović following suit nine minutes later, both for Sutjeska. Kairat's D. Kasabulat also saw yellow in the 43rd minute as the referee kept a close watch on proceedings.

Kairat showed their experience in the closing stages, regaining the lead and controlling the tempo to see out a 2-1 victory. The home side's composure proved the difference, with the team managing the game intelligently when it mattered most. Sutjeska fought hard throughout but ultimately fell short in their bid to produce a surprise result in Kazakhstan.

The win leaves Kairat in a strong position ahead of the return fixture in Nikšić, though Sutjeska will take encouragement from their ability to get a goal and stay competitive. Both teams will have plenty to work on as they prepare for the second leg, which will determine who advances to the next qualifying round. For Kairat, the victory at home represents exactly what they needed from this opening match.