Almaty, Almaty Central Stadium. Kairat Almaty have won the first leg of the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 first qualifying round against FK Sutjeska Nikšić 2-1. The decisive moment came in stoppage time. The match remained goalless for long stretches, with all three goals compressed into a breathless closing phase.
Lengthy stalemate, then Áfrico breaks the deadlock
Kairat, the reigning Kazakh champions and participants in last season's Champions League league phase, took the initiative from kick-off against the Montenegrin visitors. Sutjeska, ranked roughly 97 places below their hosts in the UEFA coefficient standings and yet to play a competitive fixture in the new season, sat in a compact 4-3-3. Kairat lined up in a 4-2-3-1. The opening half ended goalless. Yellow cards for Cadjenovic (35') and Golubovic (41') on the Sutjeska side, and for Kasabulat (43') for the home team, gave the final minutes before half-time a combative edge.
At the interval, Kairat head coach Rafael Urazbakhtin made three changes at once, introducing Shirobokov, Edmilson and Tuyakbaev for Martynovich, Tapalov and Kasabulat. The pattern of play initially changed little. Sutjeska made a double substitution in the 60th minute, bringing on Toskovic and Boljevic — the latter picking up a yellow card shortly after coming on, in the 75th minute.
The opening goal finally arrived in the 76th minute: Lucas Áfrico, the Brazilian defender with a background in the Portuguese Primeira Liga at Marítimo and Estoril, converted an assist from Bekbolat to make it 1-0. A goal from the defender appeared to settle the contest.
Mrvaljević levels — Gual responds immediately
But Sutjeska refused to fold. In the 90th minute, Marko Mrvaljević equalised at 1-1, finishing from a Hocko assist. The goal in the final minute of normal time blew the tie wide open and heaped pressure on Kairat — a draw would have given the away side a far stronger hand heading into the second leg in Montenegro.
The home team's response was swift, however. Just three minutes later, in the 93rd minute, Marc Gual struck to make it 2-1 and seal the result. The Spanish striker, who finished as top scorer in the Ekstraklasa in 2022/23 and netted 19 competitive goals for Legia Warsaw in 2024/25, again converted an assist from Bekbolat. The substitute Bekbolat was directly involved in both Kairat goals — a decisive factor in the home side's victory.
The picture ahead of the second leg
Kairat Almaty carry a 2-1 lead into the second leg against FK Sutjeska Nikšić. The aggregate winner progresses to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, while the loser drops into the Conference League qualifying path. Sutjeska need to win by at least two goals away from home to advance. Kairat, by contrast, need only a draw or a win to take the next step in the Champions League.
