Well, Wednesday night in the Scottish Premiership title race was never going to be uneventful, but surely no one could've forecast that. When all is said and done, this may be remembered as Kelechi Ịheanachọ's season.
Over at Tynecastle, league leaders Heart of Midlothian easily swatted aside Falkirk, and the Jambos were ready for a party. Had Celtic lost at Fir Park, Hearts would have been crowned champions for the first time in 66 years. So, when news that Elliot Watt had fired Motherwell in front reached Gorgie, fans were either in tears and disbelief, or in some cases both.
However, Daizen Maeda equalised for the Celts on the cusp of half time, before their other star player Benjamin Nygren lashed Martin O'Neill's team in front soon after the interval. However, everything changed again when Liam Gordon equalised for the Well. Those in maroon in Edinburgh were celebrating again, with Derek McInnes' side focussing on improving their goal difference, doing just that when Blair Spittal lashed in a third. After the full time whistle had been blown at Tynecastle, then came the defining moment of this season in North Lanarkshire.
In the 96th minute at Fir Park, after a VAR review by John Beaton, Sam Nicholson was penalised for a handball that has been contentious to say the least. If it struck his hand, it is a clear penalty, the debate really is whether or not there was a conclusive angle that proved this did happen.
Either way, with literally the very last kick of the night, Ịheanachọ stepped up and sent Calum Ward the wrong way, sending the 4,800 travelling fans in the Tommy McLean Stand into a frenzy. Due to injury, the Nigerian international has been little more than a bit part player at Celtic, racking up only 813 minutes in all competitions, starting just eight times, but he has scored numerous vital goals.
Kelechi Iheanacho's Premiership Celtic goals
- 14 September: Kilmarnock 1-2 Celtic - 90+6' winning penalty.
- 5 October: Celtic 3-2 Motherwell - 28' penalty.
- 5 April: Dundee 1-2 Celtic - 82' winner.
- 3 May: Hibernian 1-2 Celtic - 72' winner.
- 13 May: Motherwell 2-3 Celtic - 90+9' winning penalty.
If one takes away Ịheanachọ's late winners at Rugby Park, Dens, Easter Road and now Fir Park, Celtic would only be two points above Rangers and this title race would've been over along time ago. He also opened the scoring against Crvena zvezda at the Marakana in the Europa League, as well as netting twice during the Hoops' extra time blitz of St Mirren during the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Ịheanachọ clearly is not fit enough to play 90 minutes, probably not even half an hour. Since lasting 57 minutes during Celtic's more recent defeat at Tannadice in March, he has seen 32, 28, 18, 20, 9 and 20 minutes on the park in Premiership fixtures.
Nevertheless, he certainly seems well suited to the super sub role, so will be O'Neill's first point of call off the bench if the Hoops need a goal during Saturday's all or nothing title decider against Hearts at Parkhead. The Nigerian may not be a Celtic player come August, having enduring an injury ravaged season in Glasgow, but his contribution, if they do win the title, will not be forgotten.
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