Martin O’Neill’s Midas touch ensured that Celtic have a three-goal lead to take to Linz in the second leg of the European Champions League play-off next Tuesday evening…
(Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)
After sealing an unlikely, but DESERVED Scottish Premiership and Scottish Cup double last season, O’Neill had his work cut out to assimilate his new players, whilst others left in search of fortune and glory.
Those players may well be looking over their shoulders with a wry smile; fortune and glory may well be found at the very club they abandoned!
It initially looked like they chose wisely after only five minutes in the pulsating arena of Celtic Park. The Austrians scored a goal of supreme quality, only for the flag to deny them their ‘worldy’.
Sinisalo’s awareness prevented a shock opener just minutes later, and the men in black held their heads in their hands as a second chance was skewed wide.
🇫🇮🧤 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐣𝐚𝐦𝐢 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐬𝐚𝐥𝐨 (𝟐𝟒) against LASK in the Champions League qualifiers:
• 90 Minutes
• CLEAN SHEET
• 8 SAVES
• 4 Saves Inside The Box
• 68 Touches
• 44 / 47 Accurate Passes
• 15 Recoveries𝐆𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐓 𝐘𝐎𝐔𝐍𝐆 𝐆𝐊 𝐓𝐎 𝐖𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇. 👀 pic.twitter.com/pYZ0QCBiOx
— Rising Stars XI (@RisingStarXI) August 19, 2026
It looked like the writing was on the wall just after Nygren’s stunning opener when an away header found the net, but again, offside.
Celtic were playing with fire, and in truth, I was praying for mercy before too long. However, Callum McGregor’s men went on to put in a shift which was worthy of any European performance in the last decade.
The tide turned, and our three phenomenal strikes sent the fans into dreamland as Celtic turned the screw, and blew LASK out of Paradise.
Although Nygren’s opener was worthy of goal of the Season, Camilo Duran winked and said, ‘Hold my beer!’
The Colombian demonstrated why he will be a massive plus for the O’Neill/Maloney dream team as Celtic go for gold this season. He looks the real deal!
🎥 WATCH: “Whatever we paid for Duran, I think he has paid his ticket by now and he’s only into his fourth game”.
🍀 Martin O’Neill says Camilo Duran has already repaid his transfer fee after scoring two goals in Celtic’s 3-0 Champions League play-off win over LASK Linz ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/3Xdp9SxUxv
— Clyde 1 Superscoreboard (@ClydeSSB) August 19, 2026
The dangerman hit two superb strikes which took the roof off of the stadium, and sent the Bhoys off to the Raiffeisen Arena with belief, and confidence.
Celtic outplayed LASK for the majority of the match, but the quality of the Austrian Champions was never in doubt – at 3-0, the tie is not yet over!
The front runners were sharp and dangerous, and the Trusty/Carter-Vickers partnership was stretched to the max at times.
To their eternal credit, they forged an impenetrable partnership for the majority of the match, aided and abetted by the mighty Colby Donovan.
Yes, the youngster was imperious, putting in tackle after tackle, holding the ball up and clearing his lines with the authority of a Maldini or a McGrain. What a performance from Colby.
McGregor ran his socks off, Bauer probed and produced, Tierney was Tierney, and whilst Hogh didn’t get on the scoresheet, he was a thorn in the visitors’ flesh throughout.
And so, it’s onto Austria in a bid to finish the tie, and secure something in the region of £40 million.
Although we’ll have to be at our best again, I’m confident that Zadoc The Priest will be blaring from the tannoy around Celtic Park, and Paradise will be bouncing.
Bring it on.
Hail Hail!
Eddie Murray
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