Celtic lift Premiership trophy after dramatic final day

At a glance

  • Celtic secure fifth title in row and deny Hearts first championship since 1960

  • Shankland heads Hearts into lead, but Engels equalises from penalty spot

  • Maeda scores for Celtic with two minutes left after VAR review and Osmand adds a third in stoppage time sparking pitch invasion

Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic came from behind in an astonishing finale to beat long-time Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts and deny them a first league title since 1960 - while securing their fifth title in a row after a miraculous season.

The Edinburgh side had led since September in their search to become the first non-Old Firm team to win the top flight in four decades.

They only needed a draw to be crowned champions, led through Lawrence Shankland's opener, and were only three minutes away from getting the point they needed before their dreams were snatched away.

But, having levelled through an Arne Engels penalty, Celtic went in front through Daizen Maeda in the 87th minute - a goal only awarded after a VAR review correctly overturned the decision to rule it out.

And Callum Osmand broke clear to add a stoppage-time third - and spark an invasion of the pitch by some Celtic fans - as they surpass Rangers in the number of total titles won with 56.

With the eyes of the world on Celtic Park, wondering if Hearts would complete their fairytale season, the hosts prevailed - 40 years since they last started the final day in second place and won the title - when they also edged out the Tynecastle club.

In what could be his last league game in charge, interim manager Martin O'Neill has led Celtic to the title for a fourth time - 22 years since his last - having secured a first win of the season over Derek McInnes' side after two defeats and a draw.

During his time at Aberdeen, McInnes finished as a runner-up to Celtic three years running and has to settle for second place again after his first season at Hearts.

Celtic celebrate after clinching title on dramatic final day

Celtic came into the Scotland's first head-to-head final-day title decider since 1991 on a high after a controversial penalty in the final seconds of stoppage time handed them a 3-2 win away to Motherwell on Wednesday.

Hearts had been 50 minutes away from the title in midweek, as they headed to victory over Falkirk while Celtic were behind at Fir Park.

That was a nervy evening and plenty of anxiety was on show here, too, as it took 32 minutes for either side to have an effort on target.

But it was Hearts who struck first just before the break, with Shankland rising unchallenged at the back post to head home after a Stephen Kingsley corner flew over flailing Celtic goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo.

However, Engels replied in first-half stoppage time when his spot-kick slipped under Hearts keeper Alexander Schwolow - after Kieran Tierney's cross struck the arm of Alexandros Kyziridis.

Substitute Kelechi Iheanacho fired against a post and Schwolow saved from Benjamin Nygren, but Celtic's moment would come.

Maeda flicked in an Osmand cross and the young striker knocked in the decisive third on the break as Hearts threw everyone forward.

O'Neill had suggested beforehand that everybody apart from Celtic fans wanted Hearts to win the title, but ultimately the world outside Parkhead was left disappointed.

Table

Analysis: Celtic fighting spirit wins day as Hearts fall short

First Motherwell, then Rangers, blinked in a rare, four-team title race and now the focus was on just two contenders going head-to-head.

Surprise leaders Hearts had at one point been eight points clear, but having emerged from a haphazard season pock-marked with drama, Celtic have gradually eaten into that lead under O'Neill.

While both sides came into the game unbeaten in seven, Hearts had won just once in five on the road and it was that relative fragility that was to be their undoing.

Swept to victory by all but 750 of the 60,000-capacity crowd, Celtic's fifth home win in a row cemented their place as champions.

O'Neill's side won their final seven Premiership matches - their longest run of the campaign and their longest streak to finish the season since 2010.

Celtic had only won the title three times from eight when they started a final-day decider in second place, but they were not to be denied a 14th crown in 15 years.

O'Neill now leads his side to Hampden, where they will be strong favourites to complete the double against Dunfermline Athletic in the Scottish Cup final.

Hearts will look with anger at a penalty wrongly denied - according to referees' chief Willie Collum - in Saturday's draw with Motherwell, and the penalty award for Celtic at Fir Park which McInnes described as "disgusting".

They can, however, take some comfort from going so close - and splitting the Old Firm - in the first season of what Tony Bloom said was a 10-year project when the Brighton & Hove Albion owner invested in the Edinburgh club last summer.

What they said

O'Neill reacts after winning fourth title as Celtic boss

Celtic interim manager Martin O'Neill: "Never in my wildest dreams did I think that I could experience those lads up there [lifting the trophy].

"I feel rejuvenated. In October, I was having a coffee on the Kings Road, enjoying retirement. I thought the days of me here at Celtic Park lifting trophies were well and truly gone.

"The players, the coaching staff have given me a reason to live.

"This is the most special place on earth. When there is absolute unison in this stadium, it is a sight to behold.

"We made plenty of mistakes, but there's great mental courage in the team, which has carried us over the line.

"It's very easy to be patronising, but Hearts are the big story of this season. They are terrific, the manager has been fantastic."

Celtic defender Alistair Johnston: "It's the greatest league win - it must be of all time. Never count us out. We just felt like we were going to find a way. Unbelievable.

"[Martin O'Neill] is a winner. Build him a statue, it's as simple as that. He just finds a way to win."

Celtic midfielder Benjamin Nygren: "It feels so amazing. we've been fighting so much all season and now we're champions.

"It's been a very difficult season but we kept fighting, kept believing so I'm so proud of everyone in the team.

"I was not so nervous [before the game]. We had everything to win so I think they were more nervous than we were."

McGregor kept the faith to lead Celtic to title

Player of the match

M. Steinwender
8.22
38 D. Maeda
5.66
19 C. Osmand
5.34
27 A. Engels
5.17
17 K. Ịheanachọ
5.16
63 K. Tierney
5.04
42 C. McGregor
5.02
5 L. Scales
5.01
36 M. Saracchi
5.00
12 V. Sinisalo
4.96
8 B. Nygren
4.91
2 A. Johnston
4.74
49 J. Forrest
4.73
13 Yang Hyun-Jun
4.63
23 S. Tounekti
4.58
47 D. Murray
4.58
6 A. Trusty
4.48
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