In a remarkable turnaround, Samuel Adeniran secured Austria’s LASK a place in the Champions League group stage with a decisive goal just 11 minutes before the end of extra-time, eliminating Celtic in the process.
The Scottish side appeared in control early on, having taken a commanding 3-0 lead from the first leg. This advantage extended when Callum McGregor scored midway through the first half, putting Celtic 4-0 ahead on aggregate. However, LASK began their comeback when Nigerian midfielder Moses Usor pulled a goal back just before halftime, signaling a shift in momentum.
As Celtic’s defense faltered, LASK’s resilience shone through. Robert Ljubicic leveled the tie, and American forward Adeniran followed up with a crucial goal. Adding to the drama, Florian Flecker netted in injury time from close range, forcing the match into extra-time.
Adeniran’s Heroics Propel LASK to New Heights
During extra-time, Adeniran struck again to give LASK the lead for the first time in the tie. Although he missed a penalty later, saved by Finland’s goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, LASK held on to claim a historic victory. This achievement is all the more remarkable given that LASK finished second from bottom in the Europa Conference League group stage last season.
Meanwhile, Azerbaijan’s Sabah also secured their inaugural appearance in the Champions League group stage after an intense encounter with Hapoel Beer-Sheva. Despite trailing 2-1 from the first leg and falling behind 1-0 and 2-1 in the home leg in Baku, Sabah’s persistence paid off. An injury-time goal by Tellur Mutallimov pushed the game into extra-time, where Gabonese forward Orphe Mbina netted the decisive goal, ensuring their historic progression.