Kupps secures home victory over Kairat Almaty in the UEFA Champions League

The Kups have given themselves a great chance to progress from their second equal equality of rounding the UEFA Champions League (UCL), after winning the 2-0 game at Kairat Almaty in Kazakhstan.

The Veikkauslia champions had reached this stage for the first time by eliminating the Moldavian Milsami 1-0 champions on the aggregates last week – their very first success on the higher level of European club football in qualifying or in competition proper.

While Kairat was right for Olimpija Ljubljana, 3-1 in Slovenia, to reach this stage for the second time in their history.

Mohamed Toure of Kups had the first chance of the match, but his effort was too close to visit the goalkeeper, Aleksandr Zarutskiy. Halfway half-time, Jorginho had the ball in the net for Karat, but he was denied the opening goal by the out of game flag.

Zarutskiy achieved a more delicate test while the first 45 minutes ended, when Doni Arifi logged in with a free kick delivered in the box, forcing an intelligent goalkeeper of the goalkeeper to ensure that the teams were relentlessly passed to the break.

But the goalkeeper of the Kazakh team could do nothing to prevent Kups from taking the lead for less than four minutes in the second half.

Joslyn Luyeye-Lutumba broke out in the right wing before having the composure to cut the tower ball just outside the area. He took a few keys to get up before curling the ball in the upper corner.

Kairat’s response to going behind was positive, with Valeriy Gromyko and Edmilson Santos testing Johannes Kreidl in the next 10 minutes. But after surviving this pressure period, the local team doubled their lead with 20 minutes to play.

Kups did well to maintain possession at the top of the field, before Saku Savolanan on the right side nourished Jaakko Oksanen by the area. Just as Toure had done, Oksanen took the ball out of his feet and completed a beautiful blow beyond the scope of Zarutskiy.

Sadiku was refused again while Kups looked at everything except to seal their place during the third qualification round, but the Kuopio side had to be satisfied with a 2-0 victory, especially after Ricardinho missed a late chance that would have changed the complexion of equality before the return match.

This second floor will take place in Almaty next Tuesday, when Kupps aims to reach the third stage in the qualification of the UCL, where they will face Brann de Norway or in Austria Red Bull Salzburg.

Follow the UCL qualifications on Flashscore.