KILMARNOCK 1 CELTIC 2
THE breathtaking finale could have been written for Kelechi Iheanacho.
It looked as though Celtic were about to surrender their fourth point in two consecutive draws as the game at Rugby Park was tied in a 1-1 deadlock in the sixth minute of stoppage-time.
Then came the moment of high drama after referee John Beaton, following a touchline VAR check, awarded a penalty-kick after adjudging Lewis Mayo had handled a drive from James Forrest.
Up stepped Iheanacho, signed on UEFA deadline day and playing in his first game since May, to accept the responsibility of the spot-kick and he thrashed the winner high into the net.
What a way to introduce yourself to Celtic and the fans!
DEBUT DELIGHT…matchwinner Kelechi Iheanacho looks heavenwards after scoring his last-gasp penalty-kick at Kilmarnock with Colby Donovan and James Forrest about to join the celebrations.
The Hoops had taken the lead through Daizen Maeda earlier in the half, but that had been wiped out by a David Watson’s header and it was odds-on this afternoon’s confrontation was going to end in a stalemate.
However, a good run on the right by Colby Donovan and a snap shot from Forrest changed the complexion and put the champions back in pole position, just ahead of Hearts on goal difference.
Brendan Rodgers’ men are now NINE points in front of Russell Martin’s struggling Ibrox side who are in tenth position.
It took until the 44th minute for Max Stryjek to be called upon to make a save and it was Cameron Carter-Vickers who brought the Killie keeper into action.
Debut Bhoy Sebastian Tounekti, who looked lively on the left wing, whipped a low crossfield pass into the tracks of the central defender.
Carter-Vickers took a touch beofre launching a 25-yarder on target, but Stryjek foiled the USA international with a full-length dive to his right to beat the ball away.
HEADS, I WIN…Daizen Maeda dives to direct in Celtic’s opening goal.
It had been a frustrating first-half for the champions who struggled for a spark of ingenuity to break down the hosts who had been set up in a way that showed they were not interested in adding to the entertainment value of the occasion.
They seemed content to soak up the pressure and break at speed, but Kasper Schmeichel, like his opposite number, was rarely troubled in an opening period that was festooned with underhit, overhit and mishit passes.
Reo Hatate emphasised the lack of accuracy with a right-foot shot in the 31st minute that was nearer to the right-hand corner flag than the Killie goal.
Little had been seen of Michel-Ange Balikwisha on the flank, but Colby Donovan, who was making his first start in place of the injured Anthony Ralston, looked eager to push forward to add to the attack.
Callum McGregor did unlock the Killie back-four with a delightful lofted ball into the tracks of Tounekti, but the Tunisian international was at full stretch by the time he caught up with the pass and his effort flew waywardly over the bar.
SPOT ON…Kelechi Iheanacho tucks away his stoppage-time penalty-kick and (below) shows his delight after his dream debut at Rugby Park.
There was another half-chance in the 38th minute and again Tounekti was involved as he knocked a pass inside to Benjamin Nygren who scooped a shot straight into the grateful arms of Stryjek.
The breakthrough goal arrived in the 56th minute after a neat move involving Hatate and Nygren saw loan Bhoy Saracchi fire in an angled cross from 30 yards out.
Maeda was first to react as he got in front of Robbie Deas to get his head to the ball to thunder an unstoppable eight-yard effort past the motionless Stryjek.
In the 58th minute, Kieran Tierney and Forrest replaced hard-working Saracchi and unconvincing Balikwisha.
Iheanacho came on for his debut 13 minutes later when the Nigerian striker and Luke McCowan took over from Maeda and Hatate.
But it looked as though another draw – the Hoops’ fourth in five games – was on the cards when Killie levelled through Watson following a right-wing corner-kick delivery from Greg Killie.
The midfielder was allowed to run unhindered into the danger zone and get in front of Liam Scales to bullet an unstoppable header past Schmeichel for the Great Dane’s first goal loss of the season.
In the 88th minute, Yang Hyun-jun came on for Tounekti who looked as though he had run his race.
And it was heading for stalemate until the late, late show and the welcome intrusion to proceedings by Iheanacho.
TEAM: Schmeichel; Donovan, Carter-Vickers, Scales, Saracchi (sub: Tierney 58); Nygren, McGregor, Hatate (sub: McCowan 71); Balikswisha (sub: Forrest 58), Maeda (sub: Iheanacho 71), Tounetki (sub: Yang 88).
