Celtic suffered one of the most dramatic UEFA Champions League collapses in their history as LASK defeated the Scottish champions 5-1 after extra time, completing an extraordinary 5-4 aggregate comeback to reach the Champions League group stage for the first time.
Celtic traveled to Linz holding a commanding 3-0 first-leg advantage, and Callum McGregor’s opening goal appeared to put the tie beyond LASK. Instead, the Austrian champions produced a remarkable turnaround at the Raiffeisen Arena, with Samuel Adeniran emerging as the hero of an unforgettable European night.
For football fans and bettors in Tanzania, the result was another reminder of the unpredictability that makes Champions League football so compelling.
Celtic Strengthen Their Aggregate Advantage
Despite their comfortable first-leg lead, Celtic started positively rather than simply attempting to defend their advantage.
Kasper Høgh had two promising opportunities, while the visitors eventually struck midway through the first half. Yang Hyun-jun cut the ball back for captain Callum McGregor, whose first-time effort took a deflection off Andrade and wrong-footed goalkeeper Lukas Jungwirth.
The goal gave Celtic a 4-0 aggregate advantage, leaving LASK requiring four goals merely to force extra time.
Yet the hosts refused to surrender.
A costly mistake from Benjamin Nygren presented Moses Usor with an opportunity, and the Nigerian calmly converted to make it 1-1 on the night before half-time.
LASK Launches Stunning Second-Half Comeback
Whatever Dietmar Kühbauer told his players during the interval worked.
LASK returned with far greater intensity, and Usor soon turned provider, setting up Robert Ljubičić, who drilled home to make it 2-1.
The momentum had completely shifted.
Around the hour mark, Samuel Adeniran produced the goal of the night, curling a magnificent first-time strike from approximately 30 yards beyond Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.
Suddenly, Celtic’s seemingly unassailable advantage had almost disappeared.
Adeniran then struck the crossbar as LASK piled pressure on the Scottish champions, who found themselves increasingly pinned inside their defensive third.
Florian Flecker Forces Extra Time
Celtic appeared to have survived the Austrian onslaught as the match entered stoppage time.
But LASK had one final push.
Substitute Florian Flecker reacted quickest to a rebound and headed into an empty net, making it 4-1 on the night and 4-4 on aggregate.
The Raiffeisen Arena erupted.
A tie that Celtic had once led by four goals was suddenly heading into extra time, with LASK carrying all the momentum.
Adeniran Completes Celtic’s Nightmare
The first period of extra time passed without another breakthrough, but Celtic’s resistance finally collapsed in the second.
Luke McCowan was dispossessed in a dangerous position, allowing Adeniran to fire a powerful low strike into the bottom corner.
LASK 5-1 Celtic. Aggregate: 5-4.
Adeniran later had the opportunity to complete a hat-trick from the penalty spot, only for Sinisalo to make the save. It ultimately made little difference.
LASK held firm to complete one of the most extraordinary Champions League qualifying comebacks and book their first-ever appearance in the competition’s main draw.
What the Result Means for LASK and Celtic
For LASK, this was a historic night.
Overturning a 3-0 first-leg defeat was already a huge challenge. Falling another goal behind in the return fixture made their task even more daunting. Yet five goals and a relentless second-half performance transformed what appeared to be certain elimination into a landmark achievement.
Celtic face the opposite reality.
Martin O’Neill’s side were just 45 minutes away from Champions League qualification while holding a three-goal aggregate advantage at half-time. Their inability to contain LASK after the restart ultimately proved disastrous.
The Scottish champions will now drop into the UEFA Europa League, while LASK can look forward to competing against Europe’s elite in the Champions League Phase.
LASK vs Celtic: Key Match Facts
- Final score: LASK 5-1 Celtic after extra time
- Aggregate score: LASK 5-4 Celtic
- Celtic first-leg advantage: 3-0
- Celtic scorer: Callum McGregor
- LASK scorers: Moses Usor, Robert Ljubičić, Samuel Adeniran (2), Florian Flecker
- Outcome: LASK qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stage
- Celtic: Drop into the UEFA Europa League
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Conclusion
LASK’s 5-1 victory over Celtic will be remembered as a remarkable Champions League comeback. Celtic appeared firmly in control after McGregor extended their aggregate advantage, but LASK responded with courage, intensity and ruthless finishing.
Usor sparked the recovery, Ljubičić added momentum, Flecker forced extra time, and Adeniran delivered the decisive blow.
For LASK, the reward is historic: a first appearance in the UEFA Champions League main draw. For Celtic, a 3-0 first-leg advantage turning into a 5-4 aggregate elimination represents a European nightmare they will not forget quickly.
