Celtic Snatch Scottish Premiership Title From Hearts With Late Goals at Celtic Park
Celtic clinched their 14th Scottish Premiership title in 15 years on Saturday, denying Hearts their first championship since 1960, with a dramatic 3-1 win over their title rivals at Celtic Park in Glasgow. Celtic needed all three points to leapfrog Hearts and win the league, with the Edinburgh side having entered the day requiring only a draw to be crowned champions. ESPNYahoo!
Late goals from Japanese forward Daizen Maeda and substitute Callum Osmand, the latter slotting into an empty net after Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow pushed forward for a stoppage-time free kick, sealed the result and triggered a pitch invasion by Celtic supporters. GB News
Celtic finished the season on 82 points, with Hearts second on 80 and Rangers third on 72. The margin between the clubs at the final whistle was two points — yet Hearts had led the table for 250 days across the campaign, according to Sky Sports. Yahoo!
Hearts travelled to Glasgow with a two-point advantage over Celtic heading into the final day. The Edinburgh club had to win or draw to clinch their first title since 1960. They came agonisingly close. Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland scored his 20th goal of the season with a thumping close-range header at the back post, giving Hearts the lead and what appeared to be a clear path to history. Yahoo SportsYahoo Sports
The lead lasted minutes. A handball by Alexandros Kyziridis gifted Celtic a penalty, and midfielder Arne Engels converted past Schwolow to level the score heading into half-time. Balls.ie
Celtic manager Martin O’Neill reacted at the interval by bringing on former Leicester City striker Kelechi Iheanacho, who had a positive impact on the Hoops’ attacking play in the second half. O’Neill also introduced Osmand, a young forward who had spent an extended period out of action. The substitution proved decisive. SPORTbible
Maeda finished from close range in the 89th minute — his goal confirmed after a VAR check for offside — to send the home crowd into scenes of celebration. Osmand then compounded Hearts’ misery by running onto a loose ball and scoring into an empty net as the final whistle approached. GB News
The Manager Who Returned Twice
Celtic boss Martin O’Neill had returned for his second spell in charge of the club this season, having initially taken over on an interim basis with Celtic six points off the top of the table. He ended the campaign two points clear of Hearts. Sky Sports
O’Neill masterminded the comeback win on the final day that kept the Old Firm’s stranglehold on Scottish football intact. Speaking to supporters on the Celtic Park pitch after the final whistle, he drew on deeply personal terms to describe the occasion. ESPN
“The atmosphere… the players, the coaching staff have given me a reason to live,” O’Neill said. “This is the most special place on Earth. When there is absolute unison in this stadium, it is a sight to behold. The players have been absolutely magnificent. We couldn’t have won it without you. Thank you.” ESPN
Celtic captain and Canadian international Alistair Johnston was equally emphatic in his assessment. “It’s the greatest league win of all time. There’s something about this club. He’s a winner. He just finds a way to win. He’s been unbelievable to play under this year,” Johnston said of O’Neill on the pitch after the match. Balls.ie
What the Title Means
The win means Celtic have become the club with the most league titles in Scotland, moving to 56 — one ahead of city rivals Rangers, with whom they had previously been level on 55. Yahoo!
Hearts will enter the second qualifying round of the Champions League next season as a consequence of finishing second, though their supporters face a difficult summer after racking up a record points tally and still falling short. ESPN
Hearts’ defeat extended a painful run — they have now failed to become the first Scottish team outside Celtic or Rangers to win the Premiership since Aberdeen claimed the title in 1985. The Edinburgh club have missed out on the final day for the fourth time in their history, according to ESPN. Yahoo Sports
Background
Celtic have won the Scottish Premiership in 14 of the last 15 seasons. O’Neill had three league titles to his name from his first spell in charge of the club, which he left in 2005. Hearts had led the table for 250 days this season, with manager Derek McInnes building a side that looked capable of ending four decades of Old Firm dominance in Scottish football. Celtic kept themselves alive going into the final day with a dramatic 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday, where Kelechi Iheanacho scored a 98th-minute winner. Police Scotland issued road closures in Glasgow’s Trongate area in advance of anticipated title celebrations, deploying a comprehensive policing plan focused on public safety. Sky Sports + 3
What Happens Next
Celtic captain Alistair Johnston confirmed after the match that the club have a Scottish Cup final to contest within the coming week. Hearts will enter the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League next season as runners-up in the Scottish Premiership. A large policing operation remained in place across Glasgow city centre on Saturday evening as Celtic supporters gathered in the Trongate area to mark the club’s title win, with Police Scotland advising the public to expect significant disruption to transport. Balls.ie +
