In a dramatic encounter at Easter Road, Celtic snatched a vital 2-1 victory over 10-man Hibernian, with substitute Kelechi Iheanacho once again proving to be the hero. The win moves the Hoops level on points with Hearts at the summit of the Scottish Premiership table.
From the opening whistle, Celtic looked sharp and in control. Daizen Maeda was a constant menace, winning possession high up the pitch and creating the game's first real chance. His clever work allowed Yang Hyun-Jun to drive into the box and set up Benjamin Nygren, but the Swede's effort was blocked by a well-positioned Rocky Bushiri.
Maeda himself came close minutes later, racing onto a Callum McGregor through ball, only to see his first touch let him down and his finish soar over the bar. It was a sign of things to come—Celtic were creating chances but struggling to find the finishing touch.
The game took a decisive turn in the 20th minute when Hibs were reduced to 10 men. Jamie McGrath was shown a straight red card after VAR review deemed his high challenge on Alistair Johnston dangerous. It was the fourth red card for Hibs in just three matches, highlighting a worrying disciplinary trend for the Edinburgh side.
With a man advantage, Celtic pressed forward with renewed urgency. Maeda again went close, dragging his shot just wide after being picked out in behind. The breakthrough finally came five minutes before halftime—Johnston delivered a pinpoint cross to Maeda at the far post, and the Japanese forward tapped home from close range. Initially flagged offside, a VAR review confirmed the goal was good, and Celtic went into the break deservedly ahead.
However, Hibernian showed remarkable resilience. On the stroke of halftime, against the run of play, captain Joe Newell leveled the score with a composed finish, sending the home crowd into raptures and setting up a tense second half.
Celtic continued to dominate after the restart, but clear-cut chances were hard to come by against a well-organized Hibs defense. With 20 minutes remaining, manager Brendan Rodgers turned to his bench, and Kelechi Iheanacho answered the call once again. The Nigerian striker found space in the box and finished coolly to restore Celtic's lead—his second crucial goal off the bench in recent weeks.
The visitors held firm in the closing stages, securing a hard-fought victory that keeps them level with Hearts at the top of the table. For Celtic fans, it was another reminder of the depth and resilience in this squad—qualities that could prove decisive in the title race ahead.