LASK achieved a remarkable turnaround to reach the Champions League league phase, overcoming a daunting 3-0 first-leg deficit against Celtic. The Austrian side appeared headed for elimination when Callum McGregor extended Celtic’s aggregate lead to 4-0 midway through the first half. However, Moses Usor provided a lifeline for LASK just before the interval, sparking a dramatic collapse from the Scottish visitors.
The momentum shifted decisively as Robert Ljubicic and Samuel Adeniran found the net, followed by a stoppage-time equalizer from Florian Flecker that forced the tie into extra-time. Adeniran ultimately settled the contest 11 minutes from the end of the additional period. Although he later missed a penalty saved by Finnish goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, his earlier efforts ensured LASK’s progression. Having struggled in the Europa Conference League last season, the club will now compete in the Champions League group stage for the first time.
Elsewhere, Azerbaijan’s Sabah secured a historic qualification after a thrilling comeback against Hapoel Beer-Sheva. Trailing 2-1 from the opening leg and facing a 2-1 deficit in Baku, Sabah forced extra-time through a dramatic injury-time goal from Tellur Mutallimov. In the extended period, goals from Orphe Mbina and Rwandan international Joy-Lance Mickels sealed a 5-2 victory on the night and a 6-4 aggregate triumph. Hapoel’s challenge crumbled further as Djibril Diop and Eliel Peretz were both dismissed.
Bodo/Glimt maintained their momentum from last season’s impressive campaign, which included victories over Manchester City, Atletico Madrid, and Inter Milan. The Norwegian side cruised into the group stage for the second consecutive year with a 3-0 win over NEC Nijmegen, securing a 6-1 aggregate victory. The Dutch side faced an uphill battle after goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz was sent off just three minutes into the match. Fredrik Andre Bjorkan and Sondre Auklend scored for the hosts, complemented by a Deveron Fonville own goal to finalize the result. The report also notes that but Nigerian midfielder Moses Usor gave LASK hope just before the break and Celtic started to capitulate. The report also notes that last year’s surprise package, Bodo/Glimt, cruised into the group stage for the second year running with a 2-0 victory over 10-man NEC Nijmegen, who had goalkeeper Gonzalo Crettaz dismissed after just three minutes.
