Celtic FC triumphed over Hibernian FC with a score of 2-1 at Easter Road. Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winning goal just 151 seconds after coming off the bench. This victory moves Celtic level on points with Hearts FC at the top of the Scottish Premiership.
Before Iheanacho’s entry, Celtic faced a challenging match. Daizen Maeda opened the scoring in the 41st minute. However, Joe Newell equalized for Hibernian shortly before half-time.
The match took a pivotal turn when Jamie McGrath received a red card in the 21st minute, leaving Hibernian with ten men. Despite this advantage, Celtic struggled to convert opportunities until Iheanacho’s decisive moment.
Key statistics from the match:
- Celtic scored two goals against Hibernian’s one.
- Iheanacho has now scored four goals in his last six games since returning from injury.
- Celtic and Hearts both have 73 points in the league.
Martin O’Neill praised Iheanacho as a “super impact player.” He emphasized the importance of timely substitutions in tight matches like this one. Meanwhile, David Gray acknowledged that McGrath’s red card significantly influenced the game’s dynamics.
Looking ahead, Celtic’s next challenge is against Rangers, who trail them by four points in the league standings. This match will be crucial for both teams as they vie for the title.