Celtic took a commanding step toward the Champions League league phase on Wednesday, beating Austrian side LASK 3-0 at Celtic Park in the first leg of their play-off, with Camilo Duran scoring twice either side of half-time.
Benjamin Nygren opened the scoring midway through the first half, punishing a poor headed clearance by hooking a left-footed shot into the top corner from the edge of the box. Duran doubled the lead before the interval, volleying into the same corner after another loose clearance fell his way from a Kieran Tierney cross, and completed his double in the 67th minute to make it 3-0. The Colombian striker has now scored six goals in his last six Champions League appearances, qualifying included, and the Scottish champions travel to Linz for next week's return leg with a three-goal cushion.
Bodø/Glimt take charge in Nijmegen
Norway's Bodø/Glimt produced the night's other statement result, winning 3-1 away at Dutch side NEC. Sondre Brunstad Fet put the visitors ahead in the first half, Andreas Helmersen doubled the lead from the penalty spot before the break, and Haitam Aleesami added a third early in the second half. Clement Bischoff pulled one back late for the hosts, but Glimt, chasing a second straight appearance in the league phase, carry a two-goal advantage back to the Arctic Circle.
Tighter contests elsewhere
The night's other ties remain open. Slovan Bratislava and Slovenian champions Celje drew 1-1, Roman Cerepkai's early goal for the Slovaks cancelled out by Milot Avdyli before half-time, leaving everything to play for in the second leg.
In Israel's tie, Hapoel Beer Sheva came from behind to beat Azerbaijan's Sabah 2-1. Veljko Simic gave the visitors an early lead, but Javon East levelled just before half-time and Igor Zlatanovic turned the match around late on. With away goals no longer carrying extra weight in UEFA competition, Beer Sheva's one-goal lead keeps the tie alive heading into the return meeting.
What is at stake
The play-off round is the final hurdle of Champions League qualifying: the winners over two legs join the 36-team league phase, while the losers drop into the Europa League. The return legs are scheduled for next week, with Celtic and Bodø/Glimt strong favorites to advance and the other two ties effectively reset to a single deciding match.
For Celtic, the reward would be another campaign among Europe's elite and the tens of millions in revenue that come with it; for LASK, overturning a 3-0 deficit in front of their own supporters would rank among the great comebacks in the club's history. On Wednesday's evidence, Duran and Nygren have made that task look very steep indeed.
