Celtic came from behind to beat Hearts 3-1 at Celtic Park and secure the Scottish Premiership title on the final day of the season.
Hearts had led after Lawrence Shankland struck in the first half, but Celtic levelled before the break when Arne Engels scored from the penalty spot after a handball decision. The match then turned late on, with Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand both scoring in the closing stages to settle the title decider.
A tense final-day contest
The meeting between Celtic and Hearts had gone into the day with the teams separated by just one point at the top of the table. Hearts, under Derek McInnes, knew that a win or draw would have been enough to take the title, while Celtic needed victory at home.
For long spells, Hearts remained in the contest and their game plan kept the match tight. The first goal arrived after a Stephen Kingsley corner was met at the far post by Shankland, giving the visitors the lead in a high-stakes match that had been described as a title decider.
Celtic responded before half-time when Kieran Tierney’s cross led to the penalty that Engels converted. From there, the home side pressed for a winner as the second half developed into a tense and narrow contest.
Late goals decide the title
Celtic’s breakthrough came in the closing minutes. Maeda finished after a Callum Osmand pullback, and although the flag initially went up, a VAR review confirmed the goal. Osmand then added a third in stoppage time, running the ball into an empty net after Hearts keeper Alexander Schwolow had gone forward for a late free kick.
That late double settled the season in Celtic’s favour and brought a dramatic end to the title race. The result meant Celtic finished top of the Scottish Premiership again after a final-day win over Hearts who had been in front for much of the season.
Reaction after the final whistle
After the match, Celtic figures spoke of the team’s mentality and the importance of staying in contention until the end. Callum McGregor was praised for his role in leading the side, while Martin O’Neill said the team had shown great courage and refused to give up.
Kieran Tierney said the season had been “absolutely mental” and described McGregor as deserving of the acclaim. He also noted that the squad had kept believing despite how the campaign had gone at different points. Osmand, meanwhile, spoke about returning from a long injury lay-off and said he was proud of the team.
For Hearts, the defeat ended a strong season in painful fashion. BBC Sport and other live coverage described the atmosphere at Celtic Park as celebratory after the final whistle, with the title once again in Celtic hands.
The result closes the Scottish Premiership campaign with Celtic champions after a dramatic finish against Hearts.
