Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Alasdair Lamont
BBC Scotland in Almaty
"Aberdeen want to take the sting out of the game after 10 minutes of early Kairat pressure."
Summary
Result: Europa League third qualifying round
Kairat Almaty 2-1Aberdeen (Bakaev, Islamkhan)
Kenny McLean scores away goal
Aberdeen make longest Uefa journey
Return leg at Pittodrie next Thursday
Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:56 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:55 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
First real effort from Aberdeen as David Goodwillie spins and bends a shot into the grasp of the goalkeeper. More encouraging from the Dons; whistles from the home fans inside the sweaty Central Stadium.
Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:54 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
More problems for Aberdeen as they concede a free kick, Despotovic tumbling under Paul Quinn's challenge. Quinn, head in hands, can't believe referee Tamas Bognar's decision but the whistler shoos him away. The wall, however, does its job and the Dons breathe again.
Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:51 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Some neat interchanges in midfield from the hosts sets da Silva Barbosa free but Aberdeen defender Andrew Considine is on hand to lash the ball out for a corner.
Derek McInnes will be far from happy with this sluggish start. Kairat, though, can't profit from the corner as Aberdeen repel the danger.
Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:49 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Roared on by the home fans, Kairat look to turn this early possession into a shot on goal but the Dons defence has yet to be breached.
Kairat 0-0 Aberdeenpublished at 15:47 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
The hosts are zipping the ball about in midfield with an early swagger. The pitch at the Central Stadium doesn't look too bad. Hopefully, both sides will be able to make the ball sing on this surface.
KICK-OFFpublished at 15:46 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
We're under way in Almaty!
Your viewspublished at 15:45 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Luke Darmanin: Don't get all the fuss about long journeys... it's first-class travel, go to sleep on take off and you're awake on arrival!
Get Involvedpublished at 15:44 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Chris Martin: Itching to get away from work, but a client came in late, so need to be patient before I can leave early #COYR #bbcscotfootball
Stuart Tuckwood: Come on the Dons!
'Real bonus'published at 15:42 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
BBC Scotland pundit Willie Miller
"If you've got a goal threat at home [Almat's injured top goalscorer Gerard Gohou] - Aberdeen were expecting him to play - it's got to be a real bonus for Aberdeen and Derek McInnes to take that goalscoring threat away."
Postpublished at 15:40 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Aberdeen FC
It's nearly time!
Image source, Aberdeen FCMusical appetiserpublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Our man in Almaty, Al Lamont, tells BBC Radio Scotland Sportsound listeners that there are Kazakhstan dancers on the pitch strutting their stuff ahead of kick-off.
A bit of Strictly before the football...
'Difficult task'published at 15:37 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
BBC Sportsound pundit Willie Miller
"This is a difficult task in nothing more than in just getting there; but Kairat will have the same journey back to Aberdeen next week.
"Aberdeen are capable of going through, even if we don't know a lot about the opposition."
Postpublished at 15:32 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Aberdeen FC
"Former Dons and Kairat player Stuart Duff introduced to the crowd ahead of kick off..."
Your viewspublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Jim Douglas: Places that are closer to Aberdeen than Almaty: Tehran, Kuwait, Khartoum, Bermuda, Toronto...
Image source, otherApple of Kazakhstan's eyepublished at 15:28 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
A few stats to chew over with your late afternoon cuppa and caramel wafer:
Vladimir Weiss Snr, father of the former Rangers loanee with same name, is the current manager of Kairat Almaty
The modern day apple is believed to have originated in Almaty, with the translation of the cities name meaning 'full of apples'
As well as football, Kazakhstan is famed for playing Bandy, an 11-a-side version of ice hockey that is played with a ball instead of a puck. The men's side has finished third in the last four world championships...
A 20-and-a -half hour round trip by plane, or a 172 hour car journey there and back awaits travelling Aberdeen fans, covering a total of 9,556 miles. 65 Aberdeen fans have braved the trek.
Stuart Duff remains the only Scottish player to ply his trade in Kazakhstan, completing two full seasons before leaving due to league rules that state foreign players over the age of 30 must be playing for their national team to play in the Kazakhstan Premier League.
'Opportunity to go through'published at 15:22 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Dons boss Derek McInnes acknowledges how vital an away goal could prove to their hopes of progression in the Europa League.
"We want to make sure the result gives us the opportunity to go through in the home tie," he said.
"It's always an important part of the tie if you can get that away goal. All the away games we've played in the last couple of seasons we've scored bar the Real Sociedad game, and obviously Sociedad put us out. So in that context we realise the importance."
Get Involvedpublished at 15:20 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Bruce: COYR!
Blow for Almatypublished at 15:19 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
Kairat's top goalscorer and pre-match injury doubt Gerard Gohou misses out for the hosts.
Al Lamont, our man in Almaty, tweets: "Aberdeen players have a stroll on the Kairat pitch ahead of kick-off..."
Pawlett in for Donspublished at 15:15 British Summer Time 30 July 2015
One change for Aberdeen: Peter Pawlett comes in for Kenny McLean.