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Maeda miss costly as Celtic slide out of elite campaign
The Guardian
|August 27, 2025
Beyond midnight, many miles beyond the borders of Europe, Temirlan Anarbekov was writing his name into Celtic infamy.
Beyond midnight, many miles beyond the borders of Europe, Temirlan Anarbekov was writing his name into Celtic infamy. The rookie goalkeeper had made the penalty shootout saves that guided Kazakhstan's Kairat Almaty into the Champions League group stage.
Adam Idah, Luke McCowan and Daizen Maeda each saw attempts saved by a keeper turned to in emergency. Kasper Schmeichel, his opposite number, could only offer congratulations as Celtic incurred the heavy cost of a poor performance over 210 goalless minutes before their lack of composure from the spot.
The Celtic board's unpopular decision to wait for transfer business until Champions League qualification was banked now looks prudent. But would an injection of fresh attacking talent have made a difference? Where does this failure leave Brendan Rodgers's reign? To Celtic, reaching the elite competition would have been worth four times the qualification revenue and win bonuses of the Europa League. Instead, history and destiny lie with Kairat.
This story is from the August 27, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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