Vfb Stuttgart Vs Celtic: McCowan’s 28-second strike hands visitors win but Celtic exit Europa League
In vfb stuttgart vs celtic, Luke McCowan gave Celtic a dream start with a 28-second finish that settled a 1-0 win in Germany — but the visitors were eliminated 4-2 on aggregate.
McCowan’s lightning start set the tone
Luke McCowan struck inside the opening 30 seconds, neatly slotting into the bottom corner after just 28 seconds to put Celtic 1-0 up. The goal was the earliest Stuttgart have ever conceded in a major European game and represented Celtic’s earliest on record since 2004-05, when exact timing began to be recorded. It was also Celtic’s eighth goal in the opening minute of a major European match — the most by any side in history.
Undav equaliser ruled out by VAR
Stuttgart thought they had levelled through Undav, but that goal was overturned after a VAR review. The sequence left the visitors with their first win in Germany but eliminated on a 4-2 aggregate scoreline.
Historic facts and McGregor milestone
Callum McGregor made his 68th major European start for Celtic in the match, one shy of the club record of 69 set by Billy McNeill. The result added another rare entry to European record books: this game is only the eighth in major European competition history where the winning goal in a 1-0 match was scored in the first minute. Celtic were previously the first side to win a 1-0 European Cup semi-final by a first-minute goal in April 1970 against Leeds. The last Scotsman to score in the first minute of a major European game before McCowan was Brian McClair for Manchester United against Montpellier in March 1991 in the Cup Winners’ Cup.
Stuttgart’s home run ends
The defeat marked Stuttgart’s first loss on home soil in all competitions in eight games (W5 D2), their previous home defeat being a 5-0 loss to Bayern Munich on 6 December. Despite the narrow home loss, the aggregate score meant Stuttgart progressed.
Manager and player reactions
Interim Celtic manager Martin O’Neill described the tie as one with “twists and turns, ” noting the club faces difficult domestic trips — “we have to go to Ibrox which we know is going to be a very difficult game for us, then we have up to go to Aberdeen, then we have to go to Ibrox again. ” He said the side created the situation for themselves by progressing in Europe and that European football is what big Scottish clubs should be aiming for. O’Neill called the second-leg display “a brilliant backs-to-the-wall performance, ” saying the team still had chances and “almost gave them a nervy few minutes for what I consider a very good team, a team capable of winning this competition. ”
O’Neill also singled out Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo, saying “[Sinisalo] played brilliantly in the game, really well. That’s the name all round the dressing room. He’s got plenty of talent. ” Sinisalo himself reflected on his childhood admiration for Kasper Schmeichel, saying, “I watched him when I was younger and he was one of the goalies I idolised when I grew up. ”
Former Celtic goalkeeper Pat Bonner added a note about the night: “A win in Germany. What a way to sign off if this is his last European game. ”
Domestic fixtures and what’s next
Attention now switches back to the domestic schedule: Celtic visit Rangers on Sunday. Other big games this weekend include Premiership leaders Hearts at home to Aberdeen and Motherwell hosting Dundee United. A win for Hearts could leave them seven points clear before the Old Firm clash; Motherwell could move to one point behind third-placed Celtic.
Coverage wrapped up with a reminder to follow the weekend’s fixtures and build-up. For Celtic the immediate confirmed next match is the trip to Ibrox on Sunday; for Scottish football, Hearts at home to Aberdeen and Motherwell hosting Dundee United follow on the weekend card.
