Jet lag in the head: travel 15 hours to get red after 4 minutes

On Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Almaty Ortalyk Stadium in Kazakhstan, the Champions League clash between hosts Kairat Almaty and Cypriot side Pafos FC took place. Although a tight contest was expected, drama unfolded almost immediately.

Pafos striker Joao Correia, who had endured an exhausting journey of over 15 hours from Cyprus to Kazakhstan, saw his night collapse in an instant. In a desperate attempt to regain possession, he overcommitted and caught Luis Mata with a high boot. The referee had no choice but to show a straight red card, leaving Pafos to play almost the entire match with ten men.

For the Cypriots, it was the ultimate nightmare: a long flight, a tough away game, and now nearly a full match without a key player. Correia’s early overcommitment set the tone for what would become a frustrating and tense evening for Pafos.

Despite the early setback, Pafos FC displayed remarkable resilience. The match ended in a goalless draw, a result both teams likely viewed with mixed feelings. Kairat Almaty dominated possession with 69% but failed to convert their control into goals. Pafos, with just 31% possession, managed to hold firm defensively, demonstrating their ability to withstand pressure.