Celtic came from behind to secure a fifth consecutive Scottish Premiership title with a 3-1 win over Hearts, scoring twice in the closing stages in a match that required them to secure all three points or forfeit the title to their opponents.
The hosts started brightly and almost took an early lead when Auston Trusty headed over from close range inside the opening three minutes.
Celtic controlled possession for long periods of the first half, but Hearts remained dangerous on the counter and created several opportunities through Lawrence Shankland and Pierre Landry Kabore.
Shankland twice went close midway through the opening period, first heading narrowly wide from Harry Milne’s cross before setting up Kabore for two separate efforts that drifted off target.
Celtic struggled to turn their dominance into clear openings, with Sebastian Tounekti forcing a routine save from Alexander Schwolow after good work from Arne Engels.
The breakthrough arrived for Hearts in the 43rd minute. Stephen Kingsley delivered an inviting corner into the six-yard box and Shankland rose highest to head beyond Viljami Sinisalo, giving the visitors a surprise lead just before half-time.
However, Celtic responded immediately. Deep into stoppage time, Yang Hyun-Jun won a free-kick on the right before a handball from Alexandros Kyziridis inside the penalty area handed the champions a route back into the match.
Engels stepped up and converted the penalty to make it 1-1 at the break.
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Celtic turn up the heat
The second half saw Celtic increase the pressure. Daizen Maeda headed over from close range shortly after the restart, while Benjamin Nygren and Arne Engels both missed chances as Martin O’Neill’s side pushed for a winner.
Hearts still threatened sporadically and almost regained the lead when Alan Forrest forced a sharp save from Sinisalo after clever play from substitute Claudio Braga.
At the other end, Kelechi Iheanacho struck the post from distance and Nygren was denied by Schwolow as Celtic’s pressure ramped up.
Maeda’s moment
The moment finally arrived in the 87th minute. Callum Osmand, introduced midway through the second half, burst into the box and squared for Maeda, who finished from close range. A lengthy VAR check followed for a potential offside, but the goal was eventually confirmed to give Celtic a 2-1 lead with just a few minutes to go.
Hearts attempted to respond during eight minutes of added time, with Michael Steinwender heading wide from a late corner, but Celtic sealed the title with one final counter-attack.
In the 98th minute, Callum McGregor led a break forward before sliding a pass into Osmand, who finished into an empty net to wrap up a 3-1 win.
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