LASK stages dramatic comeback to lead 5-4 on aggregate over Celtic in Champions League playoff

Four goals down on aggregate. Playing at home, sure, but needing the kind of miracle that football occasionally delivers and almost never delivers cleanly. LASK Linz looked at the scoreboard, looked at Celtic, and apparently decided that math was more of a suggestion than a rule. On August 25, 2026, the Austrian club completed one of the most remarkable comebacks in recent UEFA Champions League playoff history, winning the second leg 4-1 in regular time to level the aggregate at 4-4, then scoring again in extra time to take a 5-4 aggregate lead over Celtic FC at Raiffeisen Arena in Linz. How the collapse unfolded Celtic had done everything right in the first leg on August 19 at Celtic Park, cruising to a 3-0 victory. Callum McGregor opened the scoring in the 21st minute of the second leg, effectively pushing Celtic’s aggregate advantage to 4-0. At that point, LASK needed five unanswered goals to advance. Then Moses Usor pulled one back in the 32nd minute. Robert Ljubičić struck in the 48th minute, making it 2-1 on the night, 4-2 on aggregate. Samuel Adeniran added a third in the 58th minute, cutting the deficit to a single goal on aggregate at 4-3. The equalizer came in the crueles...