MARTIN O’NEILL and his Celtic players are within a point of an extraordinary fifth successive title.
The champions set up a winner-takes-all climax against Hearts at Parkhead on Saturday after their truly remarkable 3-2 triumph over Motherwell at Fir Park last night.
It was a rip-roaring rollercoaster ride in North Lanarkshire that was balanced at 2-2 deep in stoppage-time when the visitors were awarded a penalty-kick after a VAR review.
At first, it looked as though the decision was for an elbow in the face of Auston Trusty after a clumsy mid-air challenge from Sam Nicholson as both went for a long throw-in from the right by Anthony Ralston.
HANDS UP…a defiant Martin O’Neill salutes the Celtic fans.
However, eagled-eyed Andrew Dallas, in front of the screens, spotted a handball and invited referee John Beaton to review the incident on his touchline monitor.
The match official spent under 20 seconds looking again at the flashpoint before returning to the field to point to the spot.
Kelechi Iheanacho, a 70th-minute substitute for Sebastian Tounekti, accepted the responsibility, sized up the situation, stepped forward, halted briefly and, with unerring precision, swept the ball low into Calum Ward’s right-hand corner of the net as the keeper took off for his left.
And with, the last kick of the ball, the curtain came down on one of the most angst-ridden, tension-laden encounters of an unforgettable crusade.
Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren were the Hoops marksmen earlier in a topsy-turvy confrontation with Elliot Watt and Liam Gordon replying for a home side that made their opponents fight every inch of the way for the win that leaves them a solitary point behind Hearts, who coasted to a 3-0 victory over Falkirk at the same tie.
A breathless interim manager O’Neill, speaking to Celtic TV, said: “It was so, so dramatic at the end, and for Kelechi Iheanacho to step up and take the penalty, and the manner he did, was really fantastic.
HANDS UP…Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson clearly handles the ball as he jumps with Auston Trusty in the flashpoint incident that brought Celtic a stoppage-time penalty-kick winner from Kelechi Iheanacho.
“Motherwell came out and played in the manner in which they’ve done all season, but we fought back and then took the lead.
“It was a great goal from Benjamin Nygren.
“Then they got the equaliser and time was running out, but we forced it again and we just never give up.
“The thing that I’m pleased about the most – at least we’ve taken it to the final game.
“It sounds a long way off but we’re ready for the battle.”
The title will now be decided in Paradise on Saturday with all eyes on the 12.30pm kick-off against Derek McInnes’ side.
Looks like we’re in for the grand finale to beat them all!
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