Shakhter Karagandy stun Celtic in Champions League qualifier

London: Kazakhstan champion Shakhter Karagandy closed in on a spot in the Champions League group stage for the first time on Tuesday by beating Scottish club Celtic 2-0 in the first leg of their playoff.

Andrei Finonchenko put the hosts ahead after seizing on slack defending in the 12th minute, and Sergei Khizhnichenko headed in another in the 77th in Astana.

Celtic had come close to equalising in the 19th when Kris Commons hit the crossbar with a powerful strike that bounced down close to the line.

It was unclear from TV replays if the ball crossed the line, and UEFA has rejected the use of goal-line technology to adjudicate on such unclear situations.