Kelechi Iheanacho has his first Scottish Premiership title, and the Super Eagles striker has said it means a lot to him after Celtic came from behind to beat Hearts 3-1 in a gripping final-day thriller at Celtic Park, Footynaija.com reports.
Celtic had gone into the game level on points with Hearts, knowing only a win would guarantee the title. What followed was the kind of afternoon that football writes for itself.
Hearts took the lead through Lawrence Shankland’s header in the 43rd minute, momentarily threatening to rip the trophy away from the home side’s hands. Celtic responded through an Engels penalty in first-half stoppage time after a handball by Kyziridis, and the sides went into the break level.
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Iheanacho was introduced at the start of the second half, replacing Tounekti, and immediately added a different dimension to Celtic’s attack. In the 79th minute, he picked up the ball outside the box and drove a left-footed effort against the left post, the closest Celtic had come to a breakthrough in a tense second half.
The decisive moment arrived in the 87th minute, and VAR was at the centre of it. Maeda bundled the ball home from close range after being teed up by substitute Osmand, but the goal was initially disallowed before VAR reviewed the situation and awarded it.
With Celtic 2-1 ahead and nerves shredded across Celtic Park, Osmand wrapped up the victory in stoppage time with a composed finish from the centre of the box.
‘I can’t let go of this trophy’
The scenes that followed were ones Iheanacho will carry for a long time. The 29-year-old, who joined Celtic in the summer after leaving Sevilla, has now added a Premiership medal to a CV that already includes an FA Cup winners’ medal with Leicester in 2021.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the final whistle, his emotion was impossible to miss.
“It feels so good, I can’t let go of this trophy!” he said.
He also spoke to the weight of the moment when he was sent on, knowing Celtic needed to find a way back into the game.
“It was a big tension and a massive pressure, but we knew what to do today and we did it. They were a very strong side, but God of soccer was on our side today.”
His post contribution, hitting the woodwork and winning a free kick in a dangerous area in the 65th minute, showing his importance in stretching Hearts and creating the space that eventually made Celtic’s comeback possible.
The title was confirmed with three points on the final day, the most nerve-shredding way possible.
