CELTIC 3 HEARTS 1
A SENSATIONAL season had a fitting climax when Celtic claimed a remarkable fifth successive title after overcoming Hearts at Parkhead this afternoon.
The serial champions, written off by so many, claimed a victory that will live long in the memory.
Martin O’Neill, as befits a genuine legend, was in Paradise at the final whistle as the stadium was overtaken by raw emotion.
At 1-1 in the 87th minute, the crown was heading to Edinburgh for the first time since 1960 and the hosts looked to have lost their chance of a remarkable recovery after losing eight league games in a rollercoaster campaign.
And then Daizen Maeda made a spectacular impact when he turned in the second goal.
Marcelo Saracchi, an inspired late substitution for a tiring Kieran Tierney, slipped a super pass to Callum Osmand, making his first appearance since November.
The youngster whipped over a low cross from the left and Maeda raced in to get the all-important touch to turn the ball into the net.
JUST PARADISE…Daizen Maeda turns the ball past Hearts keeper Alexander Schwolow for Celtic’s seond goal.
There was an agonising wait for the goal to be confirmed as the touchline official erroneously waved for offside. Thankfully, VAR proved he was wrong and Maeda and everyone else of a Celtic perusasion got on with their celebrations.
And the grand finale received a fitting crescendo when Osmand rolled in the third with the last kick of the ball in the eighth minute of stoppage-time.
Hearts keeper Alexander Schwolow went up for a free-kick in the fading moments as the visitors hoped for the goal that would take the flag to Tynecastle.
Blair Spittal swung in the setplay and Callum McGregor was first to the ball. The ball dropped to Cammy Devlin, but his shot was charged down by Kelechi Iheanacho and broke to the Hoops caprain who delivered a perfect pass to Osmand, with Iheanacho and James Forrest in support, who chased into the Hearts half without an opponent in sight.
The former Fulham kid took control and gleefully struck the ball in the gaping net for the goal that brought down the curtain on a crusade that veered towards the unbelievable.
Martin O’Neill waved to the crowd after the full-time whistle. He well deserved to say farewell to Paradise as a winner.
Earlier in a dramatic encounter, the first-half had come to a conclusion with Arne Engels’ penalty-kick leveller in stoppage-time.
Ironically, after all that furore over the handball award before Celtic’s winner against Motherwell in midweek, it came from…a handball.
There was no debate about this one although Derek McInnes, as you would expect, would probably want to argue the point.
Tierney’s left-wing cross was clearly handled by Alexandros Kyzaridis, referee Don Robertson unhesitatingly pointed to the spot and Kevin Clancy, on VAR, agreed.
Up stepped Engels to accept the responsibility and his drive went under the body of the diving Schwolow at his left-hand side.
It was hardly the textbook execution of an award, but no-one in the east end of Glasgow was complaining as the stadium erupted into joy.
LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL…Callum Osmand seals the title with the third goal.
The Hoops had been forced to come off the ropes after going behind in the 43rd minute following a catalogue of errors.
Liam Scales got the scenario in motion when some awful miscontrol gifted the Edinburgh club a corner-kick on the right. Stephen Kinglsey swung it away from the congested penalty area where it was worked back to the same wing and this time Sebastian Tounekti deflected a cross for another setplay.
On this occasion, Kingsley sent an inswinger towards the back post. Viljami Sinisalo flapped hopelessly, Alistair Johnston got under the ball and Lawrence Shankland, of all people, found himself unmarked to thump a header into the net.
The first 45 minutes-plus saw the hosts mystifyingly lacking in invention and Hearts’ ploy of leaving Auston Trusty with the ball was working only too well.
The American does not have the vision or technique to fire laserbeam passes all over the pitch and inevitably he opted for the short option which suited the gameplan of McInnes perfectly.
There was no threat on the wings from Yang Hyun-jun and Tounekti although the Tunisian did get the game’s first shot on target after the half-hour mark.
Unfortunately, his effort from outside the box went straight into the grateful arms of Schwolow.
THREE CHEERS…Callum Osmand races away in triumph after netting Celtic’s third goal. Kelechi Iheanacho is about to add his congratulations.
As expected, Martin O’Neill made a change at the interval with Iheanacho replacing Tounekti with Daizen Maeda, rarely seen in the opening half, moving to the left.
In the 62nd minute, James Forrest replaced the ineffective Yang as Celtic aimed to step up the pace.
Eleven minutes later, O’Neill made a surprise change when he withdrew Trusty and put on Osmand for his first appearance since November.
Saracchi came on for Tierney at the same time – and no-one could have guessed at the impact the on-loan Boca Junors defender would have on the outcome.
It looked as though the fates had conspired to leave the hosts as also rans when Iheanacho received a pass from Forrest, produced a wonderful change of feet before smashing a low left-foot drive past Schwolow only to see the ball clatter against the right-hand post and rebound to safety.
Benjamin Nygren then forced Schwolow into a fine save as he sent in a whiplash effort the keeper turned over the bar.
In the aftermarch of Meada’s second goal, the Swede made way for Dane Murray as the champions consolidated their defence.
Then came the fairy tale finale as Maeda and Osmand struck to hand Celtic a record 56th crown.
Martin O’Neill deserved no less.
TEAM: Sinisalo; Johnston, Trusty (sub: Osmand 73), Scales, Tierney (sub: Saracchi 73); Nygren (sub: Murray 88), McGregor, Engels; Yang (sub: Forrest 62), Maeda, Tounekti (sub: Iheanacho 46).
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