Hibernian 1-2 Celtic: Iheanacho rescues Celtic against 10 man Hibs to go level at top | OneFootball

Celtic scrape past 10-man Hibs at Easter Road after Kelechi Iheanacho scored the winner off the bench, as the Hoops move level with Hearts at the top of the table.

Celtic started brightly and passed up a number of opportunities to take an early lead before Hibs were shown their fourth red card in their last three games after Jamie McGrath was sent off.

Celtic made the man advantage count just before the break as Daizen Maeda tapped home from close-range but on the stroke of half-time, the ten men of Hibs levelled against the run of play through their captain Joe Newell.

Kelechi Iheanacho came to his side’s rescue once more off the bench to restore their lead with 20 minutes to go and that was enough for the visitors to hold on for a crucial victory.

As it happened

The first opportunity of the game came for Celtic after great work from Daizen Maeda to win the ball back off the Hibs defence. Yang Hyun-Jun drove forward into the box before teeing up Benjamin Nygren, but the pass wasn’t the best and his effort was blocked well by Rocky Bushiri.

A couple of minutes later, Maeda was involved again as his run in behind was picked out by Callum McGregor, but the Japanese forward’s first touch was poor and his finish wasn’t much better as he blazed well over the bar.

Off the back of three red cards against Aberdeen and Hearts in their last two games, Hibs were reduced to ten men once more with just 20 minutes on the clock. This time it was Jamie McGrath who was sent for an early bath after VAR adjudged his tackle on Alistair Johnston to be too high and worthy of a red card.

Now against ten men, Celtic were keen to make that count as quickly as possible, and nearly did when Daizen Maeda was picked out in behind, but he dragged his finish just wide.

The Hoops thought they had the goal five minutes before the break when Johnston found Maeda in the six-yard box and the striker was able to tap home before the linesman raised his flag for an offside. A VAR review showed Maeda was onside, overturning the on-field decision and giving Celtic the goal they were searching for.

But on the stroke of half-time, against the run of play, Hibs were level. They kept it alive from a free-kick before the ball fell to Joe Newell who tapped home. After another lengthy VAR check, this time for handball with the ball appearing to brush the arm of Newell, the on-field decision stood and the ten men were level at Easter Road going into the break.

Celtic continued to pile the pressure on Hibs but failed to generate many clear-cut chances. That was until Kelechi Iheanacho came up with another huge moment off the bench, as he took the ball down on his chest, before slotting the ball into the corner to give his side a priceless goal which looked set to put them level on points with leaders Hearts.

Hibs had a massive chance a couple of minutes before the end as the ball fell to Ante Šuto in the box, but he just couldn’t wrap his foot around the ball and his effort only hit the side netting.

Celtic ultimately held on for a crucial win which they would have liked and maybe expected would come slightly easier after Hibs had McGrath sent off early on. In the end, three points are all that is required at this stage of the season, and if they can win their three remaining league games, they will give themselves a great chance of retaining their Scottish Premiership crown. Next up for the Hoops is another massive game against bitter rivals Rangers at Parkhead.

For Hibs, it was a dogged, defensively solid performance, but yet again, David Gray has been let down by his players’ discipline as they received yet another red card. Their chances of claiming that fourth position now looks increasingly unlikely, although not impossible. They travel to Falkirk next weekend knowing they must win to have any chance of catching Motherwell, but also to ensure they keep themselves in 5th place, with opponents Falkirk hot on their heels behind them.