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LASK end Celtic's Champions League hopes with astonishing comeback

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Celtic blew a ⁠four-goal aggregate lead and lost 5-4 to Austrian side ​LASK on Tuesday as ​their Champions League hopes were dashed for another season in one of the worst European nights in the club's history.


The Scottish champions went into the playoff in Linz 3-0 up from the ⁠first leg and looked on their way after captain ⁠Callum McGregor scored a 21st-minute opener.


The away fans were already singing 'we're having a party in the Champions League' when it all ‌went wrong and the celebrations ​died.


Martin O'Neill's side ⁠collapsed as LASK equalised in the 32nd ​and rattled in four ‌more goals to win 5-1 on the night, with Celtic heading for another ​campaign in the Europa League.


Moses Usor made it 1-1 before Robert Ljubicic put LASK ahead in the 48th and Samuel Adeniran added another in the 58th.


Substitute Florian Flecker then levelled ‌the aggregate scores from close range after a ​VAR check in the 90th minute to take the game ​into ‌extra ⁠time, with Adeniran scoring his second in the 109th.


It could have been more, with LASK also having a ​penalty saved by Viljami Sinisalo in the ⁠115th.


"We got ​what we deserved. We were passive all night. We looked scared to go and win the game", McGregor said.


"We have to suck it up. ​We apologise to our supporters and the ​club because there's no way we should lose that game". — Reuters


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