Key Takeaways:
- Sporting Lisbon defeated Kairat 4:1 at José Alvalade
- Trincão scored twice for Sporting, with Alison Santos and Geovany Quenda also netting in quick succession
- Kairat marked their Champions League group debut with a late goal from Edmilson Santos
Match Analysis
Sporting Lisbon announced their presence in the Champions League group stage with an emphatic 4:1 victory against Kairat at the José Alvalade Stadium. Kairat, making their first appearance in the main round of the competition following an impressive run through the qualifiers which included an elimination of Celtic, struggled to replicate their earlier form against the Portuguese side.
The visitors from Kazakhstan, having travelled a record 6,923 km to take part in this match, pushed forward early on and sought to unsettle the hosts but could only threaten Sporting in the opening minutes. The home side were awarded a penalty midway through the first half after a foul by Aleksandr Mrinsky, but young goalkeeper Sherkhan Kalmurza saved Morten Hjulmand’s effort from the spot.
Respect to the Kazakh side Kairat Almaty, who scored on their Champions League debut after a 4,292-mile trip to face Sporting CP – the longest journey in the competition’s history. pic.twitter.com/tDKuxcjjbG
— Sports Illustrated FC (@SI_FootballClub) September 18, 2025
Key Moments and Scoring Summary
Despite missed opportunities for Geovany Quenda and Luis Suarez, the breakthrough arrived in the 44th minute when Trincão finished confidently after being set up by Giorgi Kochorashvili. The match remained tightly contested for the initial period after the interval, with Kairat enjoying a promising start to the second half before Sporting regained full control.
The decisive spell came in the 65th minute, as Ivan Fresneda played in Trincão, who dispatched the ball under the crossbar with a precise first-time finish. The momentum firmly with the hosts, Alison Santos extended Sporting’s lead just two minutes later, capitalising on a pass from Quenda. Mere moments after, the 18-year-old Quenda found the net himself in the 68th minute, becoming the youngest Portuguese player to score in the Champions League.
Kairat managed to register their maiden goal in the Champions League in the 86th minute, with Edmilson Santos converting after an assist from Ricardinho, adding consolation for the Kazakh side.
| Team | Score | Goalscorers |
|---|---|---|
| Sporting Lisbon | 4 | Trincão (44′, 65′), Alison Santos (67′), Geovany Quenda (68′) |
| Kairat | 1 | Edmilson Santos (86′) |
Next Fixtures
Looking ahead, Sporting will make the trip to face Napoli in the following round, while Kairat are set to host Real Madrid on home soil.
