On a very dramatic Sunday in the Scottish Premiership title race, how pivotal could those 45 minutes prove to be for Celtic? As Hearts and Rangers supporters were making their way to Ibrox for the day's later match, they would have been loving the news coming their way from Ayrshire.
The Hoops found themselves 2-0 down against Kilmarnock, conceding twice in just seven minutes, with Tyreece John-Jules' stunning curler breaking the deadlock, Thierry Henry-esque, before Joe Hugill's header looped in over Kasper Schmeichel.
Two down at the interval, Martin O'Neill's team appeared dead and buried. Nevertheless, Sebastian Tounekti came off the bench to get the comeback started, before Benjamin Nygren bundled an equaliser beyond Kelle Roos to make it 2-2.
As the game drifted into the final minute of the seven added on, Tomáš Čvančara's ball across the area was lashed home by Julián Araujo, sparking wild celebrations from the 4,000 supporters in the Chadwick Stand, with Araujo very much amongst them.
It was the late, late show for the champions, but how crucial will that comeback prove to be in the Premiership title race? After Rangers' thrilling 4-2 victory over Hearts, Celtic are just a point below the Gers and three points adrift of the Jambos, but with a game in hand, which is at Pittodrie. At the weekend, the Bhoys did equal an all-time Premiership record, one that they're on course to break.
Celtic scoring late goals again
Sunday was the second time in just four days that Celtic had snatched victory in injury time. Just last Wednesday, debutant Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain fired home an injury-time winner to pinch the points against bottom-of-the-table Livingston at Parkhead. This very much continues to be the theme of the season.
Celtic's decisive late goals this season
Date | Opposition | Competition | Scoreline | Minute | Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
15 Feb | Kilmarnock | Premiership | 2-1. | 90+7' | Julián Araujo |
11 Feb | Livingston | Premiership | 2-1. | 90+1' | Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain |
7 Feb | Dundee | Scottish Cup | 1-1. Ended 2-1 AET. | 90+7' | Junior Adamu |
21 Dec | Aberdeen | Premiership | 2-1. Ended 3-1. | 88' | Kieran Tierney |
21 Dec | Aberdeen | Premiership. | 3-1. | 90+2' | James Forrest |
22 Nov | St Mirren | Premiership | 1-0. | 90+5' | Callum McGregor |
5 Oct | Motherwell | Premiership | 3-2 | 90+2' | Daizen Maeda |
14 Sep | Kilmarnock | Premiership | 2-1 | 90+6' | Kelechi Ịheanachọ |
This is actually the third match in a row that Celtic have very much left it late, after Junior Adamu's 97th-minute equaliser against Dundee in the Scottish Cup. Overall, the Hoops have netted in the 85th minute or later 11 times across all competitions this season, many of which have been decisive.
On top of this, Sunday was their fifth injury-time winner in the Premiership this season, two of which have come at Rugby Park. This equals the all-time SPFL top-flight record, alongside Rangers' tally in 2016/17. Well, given that the Gers finished third that year and went through three managers, while Celtic completed an invincible treble, perhaps that is not a good sign.
Next up, on Thursday night, the Celts will face, arguably, the strongest opposition they've come up against all season. Stuttgart will visit Glasgow for the first leg of their Europa League tie, with the Hoops still seeking to win a knockout phase tie in any European competition for the first time since dumping Barcelona out of the UEFA Cup 22 years ago. Well, given the events of the last week or so, Sebastian Hoeneß's side will be made to work right until the end.