In a thrilling conclusion to the Scottish Premiership season, Celtic demonstrated their resilience and championship mettle. They came from behind twice to secure a 3-2 victory over St Mirren at <a href="https://www.celticfc.com/history/celtic-park-stadium/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Parkhead</a>. 



This victory added an exclamation point to their already successful campaign, having clinched the league title earlier in the week.



The match began with an early setback for <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/teams/celtic-tv-schedule/">Celtic</a>. St Mirren’s captain Mark O’Hara capitalized on a defensive error to put the visitors ahead in the seventh minute. Celtic, undeterred, responded with an equalizer from Matt O’Riley in the 21st minute, setting the tone for a high-energy encounter.



However, the Saints quickly regained the lead when O’Hara converted a penalty. It was awarded to them after the Bhoys’ defender Stephen Welsh fouled Toyosi Olusanya in the box. The relentless pace continued, and <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/celtic-tickets-for-us-tour-schedule-dates-host-cities/">Brendan Rodgers</a>‘ players managed to level the score again before half-time; all thanks to Kyogo Furuhashi’s deft finish from Reo Hatate’s precise cross.



The second half saw fewer dramatic moments but maintained a palpable tension as both teams vied for control. As the clock ticked towards the final whistle, it seemed the match might end in a stalemate. However, the game’s decisive moment came in the 86th minute when Luis Palma turned in Anthony Ralston’s cross, igniting celebrations among the Celtic faithful.



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><figure class="image"><img loading="lazy" width="1200" height="670" src="https://ds-images.bolavip.com/news/image?src=https://images.worldsoccertalk.com/webp/full/WST_20240519_WST_507861_Joe-Hart-1200x670_935c9548.webp&amp;width=1200&amp;height=670" alt="" class="wp-image-507895" srcset="https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Joe-Hart-1200x670.jpg 1200w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Joe-Hart-300x168.jpg 300w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Joe-Hart-768x429.jpg 768w, https://worldsoccertalk.cms.futbolsitesnetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/6/2024/05/Joe-Hart.jpg 1280w" sizes="(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px"></figure><figcaption>An emotional end to Joe Hart’s Celtic career</figcaption></figure>



<h2>Emotional farewell for Joe Hart</h2>



Palma’s late heroics allowed manager Brendan Rodgers the opportunity to substitute veteran goalkeeper Joe Hart, giving the 37-year-old a heartfelt send-off in what marked his final league appearance. Hart has enjoyed a distinguished three-year spell in the <a href="https://worldsoccertalk.com/scottish-premiership-tv-schedule/">Scottish Premiership</a>. He will now look forward to potentially lifting his seventh trophy with the club in the upcoming Scottish Cup final against arch-rivals Rangers.



Celtic’s triumph over St Mirren capped off a remarkable season in which they secured their 54th league title, bringing them tantalizingly close to Rangers’ record of 55 titles. They clinched the title midweek with a commanding 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock, demonstrating their dominance in Scottish soccer.



<h2>Elsewhere in Premiership</h2>



While Celtic celebrated at Parkhead, Rangers ended their season with a dramatic 3-3 draw against Hearts. Lawrence Shankland initially put Hearts ahead, but Rangers fought back with goals from Ross McCausland, Todd Cantwell, and Fabio Silva.



Hearts, however, showed resilience, with Dexter Lembikisa and Kyosuke Tagawa ensuring a share of the points in stoppage time. This result halted Hearts’ five-game losing streak against Rangers and solidified their third-place finish.



In another Premiership match, Dundee and Kilmarnock played out a 1-1 draw at Dens Park. Gary MacKay-Steven gave Kilmarnock the lead, only for Luke McGowan to equalize for Dundee. The game saw late drama as Kilmarnock’s Robbie Deas received a second yellow card, reducing his team to 10 men, and McGowan missed a penalty that could have secured victory for Dundee.



As the league season concludes on Sunday, attention shifts to the bottom half of the table, where the battle for positions continues. Livingston, already relegated, will face Hibernian, while Motherwell takes on struggling St Johnstone, and Ross County meets Aberdeen in their final fixtures.



Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images IMAGO / PA Images

Comeback win gives Celtic Scottish championship celebrations

In a thrilling conclusion to the Scottish Premiership season, Celtic demonstrated their resilience and championship mettle.

Comeback win gives Celtic Scottish championship celebrations - World Soccer Talk

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice to seal a 3-2 win that puts Celtic twelve points clear of Rangers in the <a href="https:\/\/spfl.co.uk/">Scottish Premiership</a> title race.



If <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/celtic-tv-schedule">Celtic’s</a> Kyogo Furuhashi wasn’t cemented in the club’s history as a legend before Saturday’s Old Firm derby, the Japanese international is now.&nbsp;



The title isn’t officially Celtics, but unofficially the Hoops will claim a 53 Scottish Premiership title in a few short weeks.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Celtic Park was the fifth meeting in all competitions between the Old Firm rivals this season.



Celtic went into the game unbeaten against Rangers, with three wins and one draw. What fans witnessed was more of the same, as Ange Postecoglou’s team was simply unbeatable.&nbsp;&nbsp;



The match was typical of all <a href="https:\/\/worldsoccertalk.com/news/no-away-fans-allowed-at-old-firm-matches-this-season-20230318-WST-423684.html">Old Firm</a> derbies, as it started frantically with a full house urging on both teams.&nbsp;



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<div class="ck-twitter"><blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">Nothing quite like the atmosphere of an Old Firm derby. 😮‍💨😮‍💨😮‍💨 <a href="https:\/\/t.co/6mpf3BaD3h">pic.twitter.com/6mpf3BaD3h</a>— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) <a href="https:\/\/twitter.com/Football__Tweet/status/1644666030352891905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 8, 2023</a></blockquote></div><script async="" src="https:\/\/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
</div></figure>



<h5>Both sides have goals ruled out</h5>



Celtic’s Furuhashi looked to have put the league leaders in front just moments after kick-off, but he was ruled offside after getting away from Rangers’ defense and slotting the ball into the back of the net.&nbsp;



Rangers’ Alfredo Morelos also had a goal ruled out in the 20th minute for a foul.&nbsp;



Furuhashi’s disappointment soon turned to joy.&nbsp;



In the 26th minute, Furuhashi slotted home past a diving Allan McGregor from 12 yards out, with the Rangers defense at sixes and sevens.



Rangers’ poor defending, misguided clearances, and bad passing were hallmarks of their defeat at Celtic Park.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Celtic dominated large stretches of matches, keeping 54.6% possession.&nbsp;



The Blues had chances, but for the most part, were on the defensive.&nbsp;



McGregor rebounded from conceding an early goal to keep Celtic from doubling their lead. His efforts proved vital just before halftime.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Rangers captain James Tavernier stepped up to take a free-kick from 25 yards out. The right-back coolly lifted the ball over Celtic’s wall before it crashed against the underside of the crossbar and into the back of the net.&nbsp;



Although Rangers were outplayed in the first half, they went into the break level at one goal apiece.&nbsp;&nbsp;



<h5>Celtic get rewarded in second half</h5>



Rangers started the second half just as they had finished the first period. Morelos called Celtic goalkeeper Joe Hart into action in the 50th minute, with Hoops scrambling to clear their lines.&nbsp;



Celtic settled in and took the lead once more just 13 minutes later. Rangers center-back John Souttar attempted to clear the ball with his head, only to misjudge the header, allowing Celtic’s Jota to nod it down to Furuhashi’s feet.



&nbsp;The Japanese international made no mistake, hitting it with his right foot past McGregor.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Jota, who had been fantastic running up and down the right wing, earned the rewards for his non-stop engine.



A poor pass by Rangers defender Ben Davies was intercepted by Jota, who rounded McGregor and scored from an acute angle. It was a goal Jota had no right to score. Yet, the Celtic winger’s industrious play was the catalyst for a fine goal.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Rangers didn’t go away despite trailing 3-1. However, with Ryan Kent, Malik Tillman, and Morelos providing very little in attack, it was up to Tavernier to produce a spark.&nbsp;



The right-back scored a second goal, this time getting his head to a Borna Barisic cross in the 89th minute.&nbsp;



Five minutes of stoppage time couldn’t produce an equalizer for Rangers, as Celtic took the spoils for a fifth Old Firm derby this season.&nbsp;&nbsp;



Photo credit: IMAGO / PA Images

Kyogo Furuhashi scored twice to seal a 3-2 win that puts Celtic twelve points clear of Rangers in the Scottish Premiership title race.

Celtic on verge of title after beating Rangers in Old Firm derby - World Soccer Talk

Celtic on verge of title after beating Rangers in Old Firm derby

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Comeback win gives Celtic Scottish championship celebrations

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Celtic on verge of title after beating Rangers in Old Firm derby