Late penalty joy for Celtic as Touneketi impresses but jury out on Balikwisha | OneFootball

Celtic moved back to the top of the Scottish Premiership today with a hard-fought but ultimately well deserved victory at Rugby Park…

The team earned their place back at the top of the table thanks to a last gasp victory over Kilmarnock thanks to a Kelechi Iheanacho spot kick deep into stoppage time.

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

It was a well deserved win, with a share of the spoils looking more likely after Killie’s David Watson cancelled out Daizen Maeda’s lovely opener as he headed home with just ten minutes remaining, but champions always find a way to win, and we did just that.

Daizen Maeda scores for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

One of the stand-outs from today’s game was undoubtedly Sebastian Tounekti who throughly impressed the Celtic support with his willingness to beat a man and create chances, whilst not being afraid to have a pop at goal.

The Tunisian international looks like he could be a real find as making his debut on the plastic at Rugby Park in the pouring rain was hardly the ideal setting for a new recruit, but he acquitted himself really well and it bodes well for the future.

The same however can’t be said of Michel–Ange Balikwisha who didn’t exactly impress, and was the total opposite of his fellow winger, but in his defence he was played out of position, so it’s only fair that we give him a little more time to settle in before writing him off completely. It’s fair to say that the jury is out on Balikwisha and he’ll need to up his game to justify starting for Celtic.

Celtic supporters at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Celtic supporters as we know aren’t exactly know for their patience, and they know a player when they see one ie Sebastian Tounekti, so the former Belgian under 21 international will have to work hard to prove his worth after doing nothing of note in two away matches.

Kelechi Iheanacho looked like he wasn’t going to impact the game after coming on from the bench as Conor Spence revealed would happen during the week on The Celtic Star after speaking to the player’s agent.

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

But the dramatic finale to the match, when James Forrest’s goalbound effort in the closing stages deflected off an outstretched Kilmarnock arm and VAR called John Beaton to the screen. It was an inevitable outcome and the pressure was on for a Celtic penalty taker after two successive penalty shootouts cost us the Scottish Cup, a Treble, a place in the Champions League and around £40m.

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

But Kelechi had nothing to do with that and his effort high to the keeper’s right hand side found the back of the net and shut up the Kilmarnock’s moronic support who celebrates their goal by changing about child abuse.

It the three points that mattered most and Celtic jumped back to the top of the league on goal difference from Hearts and now nine points ahead of theRangers.

Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

Well done Bhoys!

Just an Ordinary Bhoy

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