LASK end Celtic's Champions League hopes with astonishing comeback

25 Aug 2026, 22:21 · CNA · Join

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Play Off - Second Leg - LASK v Celtic - Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria - August 25, 2026 LASK's Art Smakaj and teammates celebrate qualifying for the league phase of the UEFA Champions League REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Play Off - Second Leg - LASK v Celtic - Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria - August 25, 2026 Celtic's Anthony Ralston, Dane Murray and Callum McGregor look dejected after the match REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Play Off - Second Leg - LASK v Celtic - Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria - August 25, 2026 Celtic's Auston Trusty in action as LASK's Moses Usor misses a chance to score REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Play Off - Second Leg - LASK v Celtic - Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria - August 25, 2026 LASK's Samuel Adeniran celebrates scoring their fifth goal with teammates REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Play Off - Second Leg - LASK v Celtic - Raiffeisen Arena, Linz, Austria - August 25, 2026 LASK's Lukas Jungwirth in action as Celtic's Kasper Hogh misses a chance to score REUTERS/Leonhard Foeger

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Aug 25 : Celtic blew a four-goal aggregate lead and lost 5-4 to Austrian side LASK on Tuesday as their Champions League hopes were dashed for another season in one of the worst European nights in the club's history.

The Scottish champions went into the playoff in Linz 3-0 up from the first leg and looked on their way after captain Callum McGregor scored a 21st-minute opener.

The away fans were already singing 'we're having a party in the Champions League' when it all went wrong and the celebrations died.

Martin O'Neill's side collapsed as LASK equalised in the 32nd and rattled in four more goals to win 5-1 on the night, with Celtic heading for another campaign in the Europa League.

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Moses Usor made it 1-1 before Robert Ljubicic put LASK ahead in the 48th and Samuel Adeniran added another in the 58th.

Substitute Florian Flecker then levelled the aggregate scores from close range after a VAR check in the 90th minute to take the game into extra time, with Adeniran scoring his second in the 109th.

It could have been more, with LASK also having a penalty saved by Viljami Sinisalo in the 115th.

"We got what we deserved. We were passive all night. We looked scared to go and win the game," McGregor told Amazon Prime television.

"We have to suck it up. We apologise to our supporters and the club because there's no way we should lose that game."

LASK end Celtic's Champions League hopes with astonishing comeback

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