The slightly strange “split screen” moment yesterday when Bodø/Glimt star Kasper Høgh was in action in the Champions League qualifier decisive match for his new club Celtic at the same time as Bodø/Glimt had a visit to Aspmyra.
When Bodø/Glimt sold Kasper Høgh, who had impressive statistics with 54 goals and 22 assists in 103 games, for 11 million euros at the end of July, many believed that Bodø/Glimt would weaken considerably at home in Norway and out in Europe.
So far, things are going well for Bodø/Glimt, who top the Eliteserien ahead of Viking, who have their decisive Champions League qualifier later today.
Celtic led 3 – 0 against LASK while Bodø/Glimt led 3 – 1 over NEC. – Everything was set for both Celtic and Bodø/Glimt to advance. – But….. even though Celtic scored the first goal and for a few minutes led 4 – 0 in the
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A nightmare in Austria sends the Scots out of the Champions League.
LASK 5–1 Celtic – Celtic collapse after huge lead
Celtic squandered a 4-0 lead on aggregate and sensationally lost 5-4 to Austrian side LASK – missing out on a lucrative place in the Champions League phase.
Captain Callum McGregor sent Celtic into the lead early in tonight’s clash, and after the 3-0 win in Glasgow last week, everything seemed to be going as planned. But Martin O’Neill’s side were completely pushed behind in the second half. LASK fired a total of 39 shots at goal – and equalized to 4-4 on aggregate when they scored their fourth goal in the 90th minute.
In extra time, it was Samuel Adeniran who thumped in the decision – and secured LASK a place in the league phase worth big, very big money.
The hosts even got a penalty towards the end, but Adeniran was denied by the Celtic goalkeeper.
“Makes even more pain”
Celtic missed out on advancement at the same stage last year, when they lost to Kazakhstan’s Kairat. But this defeat stung even harder – given the huge advantage they had after the first game.
Now a place in the Europa League awaits and bitter thoughts about what could have been.
The winners LASK, on the other hand, enter the league phase draw on August 27. The Champions League opener is on September 8.
From control to chaos
Kasper Høgh was close twice in the first 15 minutes, but missed both times – first on a low cross, then with a shot that went too close to the goalkeeper.
The home side hit the post with a deflected shot from distance before McGregor made it 1-0. Yang Hyun-Jun did most of the preparatory work on the left wing before laying the ball back to the captain, who hammered in low from 16 yards.
Thus, LASK was 4–0 down on aggregate – but their heads did not sink. Moses Usor gave hope just before halftime with a great finish after a smooth attacking sequence.
Hope grew when Robert Ljubicic from 20 yards knocked in the reduction to make it 2-0 early in the second half. On aggregate, it was 4-2 to Celtic – and the nerves started to show up.
Then the unthinkable came closer when Adeniran bent in a beautiful long shot to make it 3-0 – 4-3 on aggregate with half an hour left.
Then Adeniran hit the underside of the crossbar with a volley. Celtic were in full retreat.
Last-minute equaliser – and knockout in extra time
A fourth LASK goal seemed inevitable – and it came when the clock turned 90. Viljami Sinisalo saved first, but Florian Flecker was on hand and headed the ball into the net to make it 4-1. Extra time.
The first extra time was uneventful – but then Adeniran hammered in his second of the evening from 25 yards. The ball hit the bottom corner, and LASK led 5–4 on aggregate with 11 minutes left.
The American then saw a penalty kick saved by Sinisalo – but it didn’t matter. LASK was ahead.
Azerbaijani debutant ready for Champions League
An Azerbaijani team founded just nine years ago also makes its debut in the Champions League.
Sabah was seconds away from falling to Israeli Hapoel Beer-Sheva when substitute Tellur Mutallimov scored in the last minute of injury time – sending the game to extra time.
Sabah’s Gabonese striker Orphe Mbina then headed in 2-2 in the 101st minute, before Joy-Lance Mickels added to make it 3-2 in the 115th and 6-4 on aggregate.
The dream is alive for LASK and Sabah. For Celtic – just horrible questions about what went wrong.
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