Celtic defeat Hearts 3-1 to claim 14th Scottish Premiership title in 15 years

Celtic claimed their 14th Scottish Premiership title in 15 years as they left it late to come from behind defeat Hearts 3-1.

Lawrence Shankland had given the Edinburgh side the lead before a penalty in first half stoppage time from Arne Engels levelled the match.

Hearts who had sat atop the table since September, needed only a point to claim a first title since 1960, held on until the 88th minute before Daizen Maeda put Celtic ahead, and a final breakaway goal from Callum Osmond ended the match.

Celtic boss Martin O’Neill, taking charge of likely his final game, named an unchanged team from the one that defeated Motherwell 3-2 in dramatic circumstances in midweek.

Derek McInnes started with Scotland’s player of the year Claudio Braga, defender Frankie Kent and midfielder Blair Spittal on the bench. Jordi Altena, Landry Kabore and Stephen Kingsley took places in the Hearts starting eleven.

It was a cagey start from both sides in the cauldron of noise at Celtic Park with only half chances created at either end.

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Indeed the first shot on target didn’t arrive until the 33rd minute as Sebastian Tounekti sent a tame effort into Alexander Schwolow’s arms.

Hearts weathered a spell of Celtic possession before striking the opening blow.

Stephen Kingsley’s inswinging corner in the 43rd minutes was head by the head of captain Lawrence Shankland at the back post and he thumped the ball into the net to silence 60,000 home fans.

The would not be quiet for long. In first half injury time Kieran Tierney played a cross from the left that struck the arm of Alexandros Kyziridis. Referee Don Robertson had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.

Arne Engels stepped up and despite Schwolow guessing the right way the penalty kick squeezed below the German keeper’s hand to make the title decider all-square at half time.

O’Neill introduced his Wednesday match winner Kelechi Iheanacho at half time, the striker replacing Tounekti for the 45 minutes which would define the Scottish Premiership season.

Hearts introduced Kent in defence in response to the Celtic change, and soon after in the 49th minute they wer forced into a further change as Beni Bamingime went down with a hamstring injury. Blair Spittal was sent on in midfield.

As the game entered a familiar pattern of Celtic possession but few chances, James Forrest was introduced in place of Yang in the 62nd minute.

McInnes again responded, this time with a triple change. Braga, Islam Chesnokov and Alan Forrestenetered the fray with Kabore, Harry Milne and Kyziridis making way.

Kazakhstan international Chesnokov immediately threatened with a run down the right wing before his cross was cut out at the front post.

The hosts then cranked up the pressure the game approached the final quarter. Engels went close with a free kick before Iheanacho struck the post with a left footed shot from the edge of the box.

Hearts were defending like lions, throwing bodies in front of everything came into their box as the game ticked into the final ten minutes.

It took one moment with three minutes of the 90 remaining to turn the destination of the title.

Sub Osmond was sent clear down the left channel into Hearts box and squared for Daizen Maeda to bundle the ball past Schwolow.

The linesman’s flag went up for offside but VAR confirmed no offside and the goal is as awarded to the ecstacy of the home fans.

Hearts threw everything they could to get the goal that would have won them the title back but the ball would not fall to a maroon shirt and Celtic repelled every effort.

Schwolow went up for a free with less than 60 seconds to go in normal time. The ball broke to Celtic who raced forward and Osmand rolled the ball into the empty net.

Fans rushed on to the pitch forcing the referee to take the players off the field before full time could be blown.