Debutant Kelechi Iheanacho announced his arrival in stunning fashion as he scored a stoppage-time penalty to hand Celtic a crucial 2-1 victory over Kilmarnock in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday, a result that propelled the champions back to the top of the table.
The atmosphere at Rugby Park was tense from the outset, as a large section of Celtic fans staged a symbolic protest by boycotting the opening 12 minutes of the game. Supporters expressed their frustration over the club’s lack of summer reinforcements and their disappointment at an early Champions League elimination by Kazakhstan’s Kairat Almaty.
On the pitch, Daizen Maeda momentarily eased the pressure on the club hierarchy when he headed in Marcelo Saracchi’s inch-perfect cross to open the scoring. The Japanese forward’s effort was only his second goal since April, but offered the visitors some stability after a turbulent week.
However, late drama unfolded when Kilmarnock equalized in the 83rd minute through David Watson, who rose to meet Greg Kiltie’s corner and powered a header past the Celtic goalkeeper. With the home side piling forward in search of a winner, it seemed Celtic would leave with dropped points.
Then came the decisive twist. A VAR review determined that Lewis Mayo had handled James Forrest’s shot inside the box. Iheanacho, who recently joined Celtic as a free agent after the transfer window closed, stepped up with remarkable composure to bury the penalty into the net, sealing all three points in the dying moments.
Manager Brendan Rodgers praised his squad for their resilience under unusual circumstances. “I’m delighted for the players first and foremost, because all eyes were on them today,” he said. “We knew about the protest, so I spoke to them about staying focused, especially in those opening 12 minutes. I’m proud of how they managed the situation and delivered when it mattered most.”
The win means Celtic move level on 13 points with Hearts but sit at the top of the table on superior goal difference, giving them momentum heading into the next phase of fixtures.
What You Should Know
Kelechi Iheanacho, a recent free-agent signing, marked his Celtic debut with a last-minute penalty that secured a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock.
The match was overshadowed by a fan protest against poor recruitment and a Champions League exit, but Brendan Rodgers’ side regained top spot in the Scottish Premiership on goal difference.
