39 Shots and Five Goals Send Lask Linz Past Celtic 5-1

Lask Linz defeated Celtic 5-1 after extra time in the UEFA Champions League play-offs at Raiffeisen Arena on Tuesday, August 25. The match was level at 1-1 at half-time before Lask Linz produced a decisive second-half and extra-time surge to secure the win.

Celtic strike first, but Lask respond

Celtic took the lead in the 21st minute when Callum McGregor finished a move assisted by Yang Hyun-Jun. Lask Linz levelled in the 32nd minute through Moses Usor, leaving the sides even at the interval despite the home team’s greater attacking output.

The turning point came shortly after the restart. Usor supplied the assist for Robert Ljubicic’s goal in the 48th minute, putting Lask ahead for the first time. Sascha Horvath then created the next goal, with Shamar Adeniran making it 3-1 in the 58th minute. The scoreline gave Lask control, even though Celtic retained a narrow share of possession.

Lask pull away in extra time

Lask added a fourth goal through Florian Flecker in the 90th minute, sending the match into extra time with a commanding advantage. Adeniran completed his second goal of the match in the 109th minute after an assist from Karamoko Danek. He later missed a penalty in the 115th minute, but that did not alter the outcome.

The match also featured several disciplinary moments. Lask coach Dietmar Kuhbauer was booked in the 57th minute, while Usor received a yellow card in the 74th. Celtic coach Martin O’Neill was cautioned two minutes later, and J. Tornich and Luke McCowan were booked in the 90th and 103rd minutes respectively.

Shot volume outweighed Celtic possession

Lask’s victory was supported by a major difference in attacking volume. The hosts registered 39 total shots, including eight on target, 23 from inside the box and 14 blocked efforts. Celtic managed eight shots, with three on target. Lask also led corners 10-5, while Celtic had 51% possession and completed 523 accurate passes to Lask’s 459. The figures showed that Celtic had more of the ball and passed more accurately, but Lask created far more opportunities.

Horvath leads the ratings

Horvath was Lask Linz’s standout performer, sharing the highest rating of 8.6 with Usor. He supplied one assist, recorded six key passes and put one shot on target during his 99 minutes. The result gives Lask a win after their most recent listed loss, while Celtic follow their most recent listed win with defeat. No standings data is available for either team, so the impact on their league positions cannot be determined.