Samuel Adeniran’s extra-time goal proved to be the winner for LASK Linz as they overcame a huge deficit to mount a dramatic comeback over Celtic to earn passage into the league phase of the Champions League.
LASK Linz 5-1 Celtic (LASK wins 5-4 on aggregate)
The Austrian champions overcame the impossible to produce one of the greatest comebacks in Champions League history with a second-leg win over Celtic at the Raiffeisen Arena.
Samuel Adeniran played the entire 120 minutes, taking 10 shots, winning three duels, and making six recoveries. George Bello also went the distance, completing 83 percent of his passes, winning six duels, and making 10 recoveries. For Celtic, Auston Trusty went on to complete 93 percent passing, won seven duels, and made 16 clearances. Cameron Carter-Vickers completed 97 percent of his passes and won six duels.
After a 3-0 win last week, the Scottish champions had one foot through the door. A goal in the 21st minute by Callum McGregor should have made things more comfortable for them.
LASK leveled the game in the 32nd minute through Moses Usor, but Celtic had no idea what to expect when the second half came around.
Robert Ljubicic gave the host the lead in the 48th minute. Then, Adeniran extended it 10 minutes later with a wicked curling shot from distance.
What was initially a comfortable aggregate scoreline left Celtic clinging to survival, as a single goal separated the two teams. The Austrian side was relentless in the attack and had a few excellent chances to score that could not get into the goal.
Then, in the 90th minute, LASK found the goal to tie up the aggregate. Bello’s cross from the left side found center-back Almeao to head it on target. It was saved, but Florian Flecker followed up to head the ball into the goal.
That took the game to extra time, and LASK was still locked in on completing the comeback. Adeniran completed it in the 109th minute with a low shot from distance to put them through to the next stage of the Champions League and Celtic to the Europa League.
