LASK in the CL

 The second leg of the last qualifying round of the Champions League started today. 

It was perhaps unusual Scottish arrogance from Celtic after they had won 3-0 at home to Austrian champions from LASK, and after going ahead 0-1 in Linz, that they started to dream about their return to the Champions League, but truth is that LASK pulled an incredible comeback.

The first Austrian goal was a gift from Celtic's Swedish defender Benjamin Nygren, who chose to pass the ball to the unmarked Moses Usor, who equalized for the Austrians, and perhaps even the belief in a comeback. At least they came out with energy to the second half only fifteen minutes into the second half had taken a 3-1 lead on good goals by Robert Ljubicic and Samuel Adeniran. Massive pressure ensued but it was only in the last seconds of the match when Florian Flecker made it 4-1, forcing the match into extra time.  

LASK had all the energy against a Celtic side that defended poorly in the face of the odds, and it was the North American striker Samuel Adeniran who brought joy and Champions League to Linz, making it 5-1.

The defeat must have been bitter for the Celtic striker Kasper Høgh, who had just switched from Bodø/Glimt to Celtic. Bodø/Glimt qualified for the second CL in a row by destroying NEC Nijmegen 3-0, and may be this year's darlings again, alongside LASK!