Celtic cruise past LASK in Champions League playoff opener
Celtic made light work of LASK in the Champions League playoff round at Celtic Park, controlling the match from start to finish. The hosts pressed high and dictated possession throughout, forcing their Austrian visitors into a reactive defensive shape. LASK offered little in the way of attacking threat and rarely troubled Celtic's goalkeeper, leaving the Parkhead crowd with plenty to celebrate by the final whistle.
The opening goal arrived in the 26th minute when B. Nygren broke the deadlock with a well-taken finish. Nygren's composure in front of goal set the tone for what would become a comfortable evening for the home side. Celtic's confidence grew with that breakthrough, and they added a second just before half-time through C. Durán on 38 minutes. The scoreline at the interval read 2-0 and already suggested LASK faced an uphill battle in the second half.
Durán struck again in the 67th minute to seal a comprehensive victory. His brace underlined Celtic's attacking dominance and LASK's inability to mount any meaningful defensive resistance. By that point the contest had effectively been decided, with Celtic 3-0 ahead and in full control of the playoff tie.
The convincing 3-0 victory hands Celtic a substantial advantage heading into the second leg. With three goals on their own pitch, the Scottish side are well-placed to progress to the next round. LASK must now regroup and find a way to score heavily in Austria if they harbour any realistic hopes of turning this tie around.
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