By Kazeem Ajibola Shoyebo
Nigeria international Kelechi Iheanacho delivered one of the defining moments of Celtic’s season on Wednesday night, scoring a dramatic 99th-minute penalty to seal a chaotic 3-2 comeback victory over Motherwell F.C. and keep the Scottish Premiership title race alive until the final day.
With Celtic staring at a damaging draw at Fir Park, Iheanacho stepped up under immense pressure after a lengthy VAR review awarded the visitors a stoppage-time penalty for handball. The Super Eagles striker calmly buried the decisive spot-kick to move Martin O’Neill’s side within one point of league leaders Heart of Midlothian F.C. ahead of a winner-takes-all showdown at Parkhead.
The result completed a remarkable turnaround in a match that repeatedly threatened to derail Celtic’s title hopes.
Motherwell had taken an early lead through Elliot Watt before Celtic responded after the break with goals from Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren to move 2-1 ahead. However, Liam Gordon’s 85th-minute equaliser appeared set to hand the title initiative firmly to Hearts before late drama unfolded deep into added time.
The decisive moment came after referee John Beaton consulted the pitchside monitor following a VAR intervention involving Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson and Celtic defender Auston Trusty. The controversial call sparked furious reactions from rival managers and supporters, but Iheanacho showed remarkable composure amid the tension to convert with virtually the last kick of the match.
After the game, Celtic manager Martin O’Neill revealed why he trusted the Nigerian striker with the club’s biggest penalty of the season.
“When Gavin Strachan said to me it was either him or Arne to take it, I really didn’t mind,” O’Neill said.
“But when it came to the point, I was pleased that he wanted to take it because it’s the most important thing.
“Penalty taking is still very, very difficult under the circumstances. But I actually fancied him. He’s on a bit of a mission at this minute.”
O’Neill also praised Iheanacho’s impact since returning from injury, highlighting the striker’s growing importance during Celtic’s late push for the title.
“He’s done great for us in these little cameo roles. He’s there for us. He wants to win,” the manager added.
Iheanacho himself admitted afterward that even he struggled to explain how he handled the pressure of such a defining moment.
“To be fair, I don’t have words and I don’t know how I did that but we’ve done it,” the Nigerian forward said after the match.
The goal was Iheanacho’s eighth of the season and perhaps his most important yet, further cementing his growing reputation as Celtic’s clutch performer during the title run-in.
The dramatic victory means Celtic now head into Saturday’s decisive clash against Hearts knowing that only a win will secure another league crown, while a draw would hand Hearts their first Scottish title since 1960.