Epic encounter settled by goal of the ages

145

Celtic emerged from yesterday’s game against Newco with all the credit and the points, but Newco contributed significantly to the occasion and forced the champions to be at their very best.

Backed by a raucous home crowd, Celtic took control of the early stages, but it was Newco who drew first blood.  The goal came from a turnover after a high press on Celtic’s defence.  Had we lost the game, the inquest into this one would be onerous.  Luke McCowan allowed Fernandez to huckle the ball from him, while Auston Trusty was sold by the advancing Chermiti.  Liam Scales was on-hand to cover but Chermiti’s shot rebounded off Scales into the path of Moore, who had a simple task to roll the ball home.  After winning the ball and beating Trusty, the visitors deserved the break of the ball.

Celtic’s title challenge was now under pressure, while Newco had the lead they needed to keep their chance of a Champions League qualification spot alive.  The goal lifted Newco, who after it, enjoyed their best 10 minutes of the game.  Celtic continued to plug away, though, with Yang, Engels, Nygren and McGregor all forcing the pace of the game through quick passing.

Yang in particular was brave on the ball and throughout carried it at opponents.  One such occasion set Daizen Maeda free.  The striker bossed Fernendez to leave him clear through on the keeper, but the finish went past the post.

McCowan made up for his part on the Newco goal by executing a reverse pass to setup the equaliser.  Arne Engels timed a late run onto that pass, hit the byline and cut back into the heart of the box.  Yang was on the move before that pass was on its way and made no mistake to draw Celtic level.

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First time around at Celtic, Martin O’Neill frustrated me by his reluctance to make early substitutions.  Yesterday, he hooked McCowan at the interval and brought on Sebastian Tounekti.  The change tightened-up Celtic’s game and gave Newco more to defensive positions to cover.

Watching from the stands, Newco’s two central defenders, Fernandez and Djiga impressed.  They were comfortable in possession and assured in the air.  Watching the game back, their lack of tactical discipline was exposed at the equaliser.  Kieran Tierney hit the byline on the Celtic left, crossing into the space between keeper and defence.  Daizen Maeda was first to react and finished superbly giving Butland in the Newco goal no chance.

Some of us are fortunate enough to have been at Celtic Park for one of the definitive goals of the century, when Henrik Larsson chipped Rangers’ Stefan Kloss with Celtic on their way to a famous 6-2 victory in 2000.  I wonder how many of those there that day were also at Celtic Park to witness Daizen’s overhead kick?

When a ball arcs on its way into the net it gives spectators a thrill which is not available when other types of fabulous goals are scored.  An arc requires a restrained touch.  Kyogo’s screamer into the top corner against Newco in 2024 was spectacular, but that arc yesterday, the acrobatics required to execute it and the importance of the occasion all took us to a special place.

It was a genuinely special moment which we were privileged to witness, more privileged are those of us who can talk about Henrik’s most brilliant moment too.

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Newco never gave up and redoubled their efforts in the final quarter of the game.  After Hearts dropped two points on Saturday, Celtic moved into a position of being able to win the title by winning all their games, no longer needing to worry about goal difference.  That gave Martin the luxury of being able to close the game out without worrying about getting forward.

The thousands of joyous fans inside Celtic Park were able to lap up the final minutes of the game, despite Newco’s flurry of late corners and free-kicks, confident that None Shall Pass.

There is only one game in our season worth worrying about, we play in Lanarkshire on Wednesday with everything on the line.

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  1. From jobo

     

     

    *SENTINEL CELTS PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2025-26*

     

    *RESULTS FROM GAME #56 CELTIC 3 SEVCO 1 (YANG, MAEDA(2))*

     

     

    Good evening, friends.

     

     

    A much improved performance from the reigning Champions, particularly in the 2nd half, saw us comprehensively defeat Triggers Broom FC, reversing the score from or January fixture. 3 wonderful goals, with the final one up there among the best I have ever witnessed live at Celtic Park. All in all, since Celtic had last played, defeating Hibs, it has been a very good 7 days.

     

    Maeda scored his 6th goal in 4 games after Yang had opened the scoring. 2 players who very nearly left us on deadline day last Autumn, but who have both made valued contributions in the 2nd half of the season.

     

    6 consecutive ‘must win’ games have now been, eh, won leaving just 2 more required in the next 5 days.

     

    Celtic have now played 56 games, and have won 31, drawn 12 and lost 13. We have scored 104 goals and conceded 65. A good weekend saw us consign Sevco to 3rd place and close the gap at the top to Hearts to just a single point. 2 games remain.

     

    As for the voting numbers, when we beat St Mirren 6-2 in the cup semi final this generated the highest ever number of voters, 118. That record has only lasted 3 weeks and so it is a HUGE thanks to the 132 (one hundred and thirty two) who voted this time around. Delighted to be having to dip into my Gringott’s account to fund another £9.40 donation to C.H.A.S. And that makes the total for the season so far as £101.40. With 3 more games to go…

     

     

    The total votes cast for each player (with my own nominations asterisked) are as follows. And as I always promise, I will respect the anonymity of the 2 folk who didn’t include Daizen in their top 3. It’s all about opinions 😊

     

     

    Sinisalo: 0

     

    Johnston: 14

     

    Trusty: 1

     

    Scales: 36

     

    Tierney*: 59

     

    McGregor*: 49

     

    Engels: 62

     

    Nygren: 1

     

    McCowan: 0

     

    Maeda*: 130

     

    Yang: 41

     

    Tounekti: 3

     

    Hatate: 0

     

    Iheanacho: 0

     

    Ralston: 0

     

    Saracchi: 0

     

    Unused substitutes: Doohan, Forrest, Murray, Oxlade-Chamberlain

     

     

    And so, the POINTS earned by each player for the game against Triggers Broom FC are as follows –

     

    25 points: Maeda

     

    22 points: Engels

     

    19 points: Tierney

     

    16 points: McGregor

     

    14 points: Yang

     

    12 points: Scales

     

    11 points: Johnston

     

    10 points: Tounekti

     

    9 points each: Nygren and Trusty

     

    5 points each: Hatate, Iheanacho, McCowan, Ralston, Saracchi and Sinisalo

     

    1 point each: Doohan, Forrest, Murray, Oxlade-Chamberlain

     

     

    The cumulative points achieved after 56 games played (and with 3 games to go) are as follows –

     

     

    758: Tierney

     

    721: McGregor

     

    715: Scales

     

    558: Maeda

     

    532: Trusty

     

    526: Nygren

     

    525: Yang

     

    508: Engels

     

    485: Hatate

     

    464: Tounekti

     

    404: Forrest

     

    375: McCowan

     

    359: Schmeichel

     

    316: Iheanacho

     

    310: Donovan

     

    286: Saracchi

     

    258: Ralston

     

    244: Araujo

     

    236: Sinisalo

     

    191: Kenny

     

    164: Murray

     

    163: Bernardo

     

    158: Carter-Vickers

     

    126: Oxlade-Chamberlain

     

    125: Cvancara

     

    96: Johnston

     

    83: Arthur

     

    78: Yamada

     

    76: Balikwisha

     

    43: Adamu

     

    40: Osmand

     

    23: Inamura

     

    21: Doohan

     

    19: Idah

     

    17: Welsh

     

    14: Simpson-Pusey

     

    8: Mvuka

     

    3: Isiguso and McArdle

     

    2: Hale

     

    1: Hayney and Hatton

     

    0: All the other players who’ve not yet made a matchday squad!

     

     

    So, just under 47 hours until Celtic face a very tough away trip to Motherwell, kick off on Wednesday is at 8.00pm. At the same time, Hearts host Falkirk. Both games are live on Sky.

     

     

    Hail Hail!

  2. 5 in a row in the one Horse league gets laughed at by clubs from serious leagues, in serious countries were a Man is a Man, and a Woman is a Woman, were their Dogs and Cats don’t have to sleep with one eye open due to the complicated psychological difficulties of their new Human owners.

     

    Its all so unnecessary….

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    🚨NEW: “I will NOT stand down, I just WILL NOT, and if this drama continues, I WILL call a snap election!” 🇬🇧

     

    Rumours suggest Keir Starmer has sent this warning to Labour MPs amid MASS Numbers of MPs calling for the prime minister to RESIGN❗️

     

    How long do you think he has left?

     

    https://xcancel.com/BROKENBRITAIN0/status/2053911178405965849#m

     

    |

     

    If you don’t vote for the ONLY NON LOBBY CONTROLLED Party, WPB, then your voting for even more UK streets, football stadiums, etc to be controlled, policed, colonized, by those colonizers who are fleeing stolen Palestine….careful Tims.

  5. The Lobby planted ‘vote counters’ hope that you will never know this…..

     

    |

     

    Craig Murray [was jailed for 8 months by krankie for supporting Alex Salmond RIP]

     

    @CraigMurrayOrg

     

    “A Birmingham seat is being recounted for the third time.

     

    The Workers Party won the first count by 6 votes. They won the second count by 6 votes.

     

    Then the Returning Officer – who is of course an employee of Labour run Birmingham City Council – “Found” seven Labour votes that had gone astray.”

     

    https://xcancel.com/KariRosage/status/2053911218910277680#m

     

    Why are the Epstein Class Establishment SO terrified of the PURE AS THE DRIVEN SNOW, TIMMY, GREEN BRIGADE LOVERS, UPPITY, IRISH REPUBLICAN, JAMES CONNOLLY, WORKING CLASS, ONE STATE PALESTINE SOLUTION, driven Souls????

     

    What does the deep swamp fear of the humble WPB????

     

    Sad are the homes of the willfully blind….all so sad, all so unnecessary…

  6. I just read in a BBC article that Celtic have topped the SPL for just 33 days this season. This is exactly the same number of days that Wilfried Nancy was in charge at Celtic Park, with half of our SPL defeats occurring in those fateful 33 days. 😵‍💫

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  8. The Maeda Workhorse Way x 11 = Celtic 2nd European Trophy!

     

    Loan McCowan out to Livingston for a season, or Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline Work Camp.

     

    Toughen him up a bit – sauntering about without shinpads is if he was at the seaside for a paddle is not on.

     

    Booooooooooooo!

     

    No wonder the big ugly Hun shoved the weak as piss McCowan onto his marshmallow erchie at the Hun goal.

     

    Savvy street dugs for Celtic or you don’t get through the Parkhead gates.

     

    tic, toc….

  9. spikeysauldman on

    celtic mac

     

     

    “Of course I might have got it wrong, that you actually rate Arnie and it is Spikey who has got it all wrong…

     

    which wouldn’t be the first time to be fair….”

     

     

    who – me or you ?

  10. spikeysauldman on 11th May 2026 10:37 pm

     

    Flynn

     

    complicated psychological difficulties

     

    ring a bell ?

     

    |

     

    Sounds like your front door…..

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  12. Celtic Mac on 11th May 2026 10:39 pm

     

    Mandy’s man Starmer on the brink….

     

    |

     

    Big Scottish Sarwar the ‘White People’ hating racist was lifelong friends with ‘Petey’ more often than not staying the week, weekend, month, at his house, but knew nothing about him?! lol

     

    tic, toc….

  13. Maolmuire O Muirgheasa on

    Brian came out for a kick and then ran back into the house.

     

     

    Brian, you’re so predictable.

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  15. Back to Basics - Glass Half Full on

    Good morning CQN

     

     

    Another fine day to be a Celt.

     

     

    Hoping for the squad being largely rested today.

     

     

    Huge emotional output 2 days ago.

     

     

    Very difficult to come down, get back in a regular rhythm, train, then get back up for a huge game

     

     

    … just three days later.

     

     

    Martin knows this.

     

     

    As a pupil of Clough he’ll recognise the value of not over training.

     

     

    Plus he knows how to lead a club into the business end of the season.

     

     

    I hope all on here have a safe and peaceful day.

     

     

     

    An T – thank you for postingbthe Bradford link.

     

     

    A tragedy from, what is to many, another time.

     

     

    Remember it clearly

  16. quadrophenian on

    Huns hurtin

     

    I’m still smiling.

     

    Our boys has plenty of snap about them which caught ra Huns by surprise – for a nice change!

     

    Reo hardly touched it but played positionslly well out of possession.

     

    Wee Seb was a real difference maker too.

     

     

    Come on ye Celts !!

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    Its Goin in fast

     

     

    Good luck all applying

     

     

    HH

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