Celtic held a commanding 3-0 lead over LASK from the first leg but saw it evaporate in a shocking 1-5 defeat in the return match, marking LASK’s first-ever progression to the main stage of the Champions League. The aftermath of this collapse has sparked intense reactions from the Scottish media.
Despite the odds heavily favoring Celtic after their first leg, where they scored three unanswered goals, the return match began with promise as Callum McGregor netted an early goal in the 21st minute. This goal seemed to seal their qualification.
However, a remarkable turnaround ensued. LASK equalized before halftime with a goal from Usor in the 32nd minute. The second half witnessed an onslaught from LASK, who scored three more goals, forcing the match into extra time. Ljubicic (48′), Adeniran (58′), and Flecker (90′) were instrumental in this shocking comeback.
The nightmare for Celtic culminated in the second half of extra time when Adeniran scored again in the 109th minute, leading to LASK’s historic qualification for the Champions League group stage, while Celtic now faces the Europa League.
How has the Scottish press responded to this unprecedented collapse?
Scottish Media Reacts: “96% Chance of Qualification? 100% Humiliation!”
Daily Record did not hold back: “Experts calculated that Celtic had a 96% chance of qualifying for the Champions League after the first leg. They were gravely mistaken, and the ‘Hoops’ suffered a 100% humiliation on a night of nightmare in Linz. Celtic imploded, as their Champions League dreams turned to ruins and disgrace.”
Despite holding a 4-0 aggregate lead, the team pressed the self-destruct button in a shocking fashion. Over the years, Celtic has faced several devastating eliminations in Champions League qualifiers, but this may be the most severe. Squandering a four-goal advantage is simply unforgivable.
The Sun: “Ridiculous, Pathetic, and Absolutely Shocking”
The Sun’s Scottish edition continued the harsh critique: “Martin O’Neill’s first experience as Celtic’s Champions League manager was extraordinary and absolutely shocking. The same can be said for his last (a pun was employed here with ‘LASK’ instead of ‘last’).”
Recalling a infamous defeat to Juventus 25 years ago that left O’Neill disgusted, he found this defeat incomparably worse. Celtic led 4-0 on aggregate in the tie until McGregor’s goal in the 21st minute seemed to guarantee them a trip to iconic stadiums like Camp Nou, Bernabeu, or Allianz Arena. Instead, they squandered that lead and exited the competition in disgrace, conceding goal after goal.
It was ridiculous, pathetic, and absolutely shocking how a team could lose grip of a match they controlled so clearly. O’Neill appeared utterly drained both physically and emotionally at the conclusion of this match.
Celtic’s Historical Shame: LASK Joins CFR Cluj in the List
The Herald commented: “On the banks of the Danube, Celtic hit a new historic low, and their Champions League dream has definitively extinguished. Despite a 3-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, Martin O’Neill’s team was defeated 5-1 in the return leg in Linz, eliminated from Europe’s premier club competition. It is hard to recall such a dramatic collapse in Europe from a team in such a position of strength. The disbelief among Celtic players was palpable when LASK scored the winning goal. How they will recover from this blow remains to be seen.”
How could such a thing happen? There are poor patches, and then there is Celtic’s collapse in Linz. This was undoubtedly a critical point in the club’s European history. Few can recall a similar defeat on the continent in recent history.
Celtic has now failed to qualify for the Champions League for the sixth consecutive time. LASK now joins teams like AEK Athens, CFR Cluj, Ferencvaros, Midtjylland, and Kairat Almaty, who have shattered their early season dreams.
