Kelechi Iheanacho’s 100th-minute penalty to grab Celtic a 3-2 win at Motherwell sent the Scottish Premiership title race to the final day in the most incredible circumstances.
Hearts were primed to be crowned champions at Celtic Park on Saturday lunchtime, live on Sky Sports, having beaten Falkirk 3-0. But while they celebrated that win with their supporters at Tynecastle, their hopes of a first title in 66 years were hit with the final kick of the game at Fir Park after penalty drama.
The top two will instead face off with just one point separating them. But whether Celtic should have been awarded a spot-kick split opinion.
With Celtic desperately searching for a winner and just seconds remaining, a VAR check sent referee John Beaton to the pitchside monitor where he judged Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson to have committed handball from a long throw launched into the box. Sub Iheanacho was ice cool as he sent Calum Ward the wrong way and Celtic’s travelling fans wild.
They ran onto the pitch to join their jubilant players, knowing victory at home on Saturday will complete an epic comeback to retain the title.
Hearts, who have led this race for so much of the campaign, still have it in their hands, too. But whereas a Celtic draw would have required Martin O’Neill’s side to win by three goals to overcome a goal-difference gap, Hearts must now at least draw at the home of the defending champions if they are to dethrone them.
Iheanacho’s penalty also means there is still work for Motherwell to do to secure European football for next season. They go to Hibernian on the final day with just a one-point advantage over them in the chase for fourth and a Conference League spot.
Was the penalty decision correct?
As the long throw came in, Nicholson jumped up with Celtic’s Auston Trusty to try to head the ball.
Nicholson’s elbow was raised but then pushed further up by Trusty’s shoulder as they jumped up together, with his hand up near his own face.
“If it hits him on the hand, his arm is up and raised,” said former Celtic striker Chris Sutton on co-commentary.
But pundits in the Sky Sports studio weren’t convinced the ball did hit Nicholson’s hand.
“For that to fly off his head at this pace, if it hits your hand it will drop in front of you – it won’t fly off [like it did],” said former Rangers striker Kris Boyd.
Former Hearts striker and manager John Robertson said: “I don’t know if it has hit his hand, I think it is the head. His hand is up and if it has hit his hand, it is a penalty.”
Former Hearts midfielder Paul Hartley said: “The power on it takes it for a throw-in. I didn’t see too many Celtic players appeal for a penalty; I just thought it was a throw-in.
“His hand is up but it has clearly come off his head. That is a header. The view is quite difficult. They [Celtic] have got lucky.”
More to follow…
What’s coming up in the Scottish Premiership?
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
