Yang Hyun-jun Registers First Assist, But Celtic Misses Out on UCL Group Stage After Bitter Comeback Defeat

Scottish professional football club Celtic suffered a painful comeback defeat against Austria's LASK despite Yang Hyun-jun recording his first assist of the season, failing to advance to the UEFA Champions League (UCL) main stage.

Celtic suffered a heavy 5-1 defeat after extra time in the away second leg of the 2026-2027 UCL qualifying playoff held at the Raiffeisen Arena in Linz, Austria, today (KST 26th), even after scoring the opening goal courtesy of Yang's assist.

Celtic, which won the first leg 3-0 at home last week, led 4-0 on aggregate before conceding five consecutive goals, leading to an unbelievable 5-4 aggregate comeback defeat.

Celtic will now drop down to compete in the UEFA Europa League, the second-tier European club competition, while LASK reached the UCL main stage for the first time.

When the opening goal was scored in the 21st minute of the first half, Celtic's advancement to the UCL main stage seemed all but certain.

Yang darted down the left flank, received a through ball, drove into the center, and delivered a cutback that Callum McGregor finished with a left-footed shot to open LASK's goal.

That, however, was as far as it went.

Celtic subsequently conceded four unanswered goals, allowing a 4-4 aggregate scoreline that forced the match into extra time, and ultimately collapsed after conceding a painful winning goal in the 4th minute of the second half of extra time.

Yang was substituted off in the 18th minute of the second half.

(Photo: Getty Images)
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