Celtic 3-1 Motherwell: The Hoops’ title challenge continues with crucial home win. | OneFootball

Celtic picked up a crucial three points at home to Motherwell this afternoon, continuing their Premiership title challenge.

Elijah Just gave the visitors the lead early on, only to be pegged back by Hyun-Jun Yang who levelled the scores just a few minutes later.

Celtic took the lead in the second-half when Emmanuel Longelo saw red and Tomâš Čvančara converted the penalty before Yang scored again to seal the win.

As It Happened

You could tell this game was a big one, with a bit of bite in it as well, when Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was shown the first yellow card of the game after just seven minutes following a foul on Just. The former Arsenal midfielder also registered the first shot on target of the afternoon when his right footed effort was saved by Calum Ward in the Motherwell goal.

However, it was the visitors who found the opener on the half hour mark through Just who fired into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area.

The lead didn’t last long though as Celtic drew themselves level just six minutes later with Yang tucking home the equaliser for his side, bringing the first half to a close.

The hosts made one change at the break with Cvancara replacing Sebastian Tounekti. As Motherwell looked to regain their lead, Ibrahim Said forced a strong save out of Viljami Sinisalo.

Just forced the second Celtic booking of the day before the hour mark, when he was fouled by Colby Donovan. A few minutes later, the home side made another change with Luke McCowan introduced from the bench in place of Benjamin Nygren.

Reo Hatate joined his teammates in the referee’s notebook shortly after. Having forced two yellows already in the match, Just received one himself with 25 minutes left on the clock.

The visitors went down to ten men in the 71st minute when Longelo was sent off after conceding a penalty, which was converted by Cvancara. Calum Ward also made his way into John Beaton’s notebook.

Celtic then made a triple change Marcelo Saracchi, Anthony Ralston and Paulo Bernardo replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain, Donovan and Kieran Tierney. The away side made two substitutions of their own at the same time with Oscar Priestman and Eythor Martin Bjøgolfsson bringing Said and Lukas Fadinger’s afternoons to an end.

Moments later, Yang netted his second of the afternoon to put Celtic 3-1 up and complete the comeback for an important three points.

Ralston saw yellow in the 82nd minute due to a foul on Just in his own half. Motherwell made a further three changes before the game was over with Just, Tom Sparrow and Tawanda Maswanhise withdrawn for Luca Ross, Jordan McGhee and Sam Nicholson.

That win takes Celtic within two points of league leaders Hearts, who are in action at Kilmarnock this evening.