Celtic surrender four-goal lead as LASK end Champions League hopes

Lead

Celtic have been knocked out of Champions League qualifying after LASK overturned a four-goal aggregate deficit to win the play-off 5-4, with the second leg in Linz ending 5-1 after extra time. Source 1Source 2Source 3

The scale of the reversal was stark: Celtic had begun the night with a 3-0 first-leg advantage and extended it to 4-0 on aggregate before LASK’s five-goal response. Source 1Source 2Source 3

What happened

The first leg had been played in Glasgow around 19 August, leaving Martin O’Neill’s Celtic three goals ahead before the return at Raiffeisen Arena on 25 August. Source 1Source 2

Callum McGregor put Celtic ahead in the 21st minute of the second leg, a goal that made the aggregate score 4-0 and appeared to put the tie beyond LASK. Source 1Source 3

Instead, Moses Usor scored in the 32nd minute and Robert Ljubicic followed in the 48th as LASK began to cut into the deficit. Source 1Source 3

Samuel Adeniran made it 3-1 on the night in the 58th minute, before Florian Flecker’s 90th-minute goal levelled the aggregate score at 4-4 and forced extra time. Source 1Source 2Source 3

Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo saved a penalty from Adeniran during extra time, but Adeniran scored again in the 109th minute to complete LASK’s comeback and decide the tie. Source 2Source 3

Why it matters

The defeat means Celtic have failed to reach the Champions League league phase for a second consecutive season. Source 1Source 2

They will instead compete in the Europa League, while LASK have reached the Champions League league phase for the first time in the club’s history. Source 1Source 2Source 3

The financial effect is also significant, with the defeat reported to cost Celtic more than £20 million in lost revenue. Source 1

The match statistics underline the pressure Celtic faced in Linz: they had 51% possession but were outshot 41 to eight, with LASK registering eight efforts on target to Celtic’s three. Source 4

McGregor’s verdict after the final whistle was unequivocal: "We got what we deserved. We were passive all night." Source 2

What’s next

Celtic’s immediate task is to return to Scottish Premiership action at home to Falkirk on 29 August. Source 6

They are then scheduled to play Aberdeen at home on 2 September and St Mirren away on 5 September, before travelling to Rangers for a League Cup quarter-final on 12 September. Source 6

Despite the European exit, Celtic remained top of the Scottish Premiership after two league matches, having taken six points while scoring six goals and conceding one. Source 5

Notes

The extra-time penalty save by Sinisalo did not alter the outcome, as Adeniran’s second goal of the night came in the 109th minute to give LASK the aggregate lead. Source 2Source 3

Celtic’s European campaign continues in the Europa League, but the Champions League route has ended after a tie in which their 4-0 aggregate advantage was erased in Linz. Source 1Source 2Source 3