Celtic 3-1 Falkirk: Hoops go second as title race continues | OneFootball

A Daizen Maeda brace saw Celtic move up to second place in the league, and go level on points with league leaders Hearts, continuing the title fight in the first game of the split.

Maeda opened the scoring after half an hour, before Tierney doubled the hosts advantage before the break. Kyrell Wilson’s superb volley gave Falkirk a lifeline, but that was killed off when Maeda found the bottom corner for his second of day to seal an important three points.

As It Happened

Martin O’Neill made two changes to his Celtic lineup following their 6-2 victory over St.Mirren. James Forrest and Liam Scales came in for Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Arthur. Falkirk, meanwhile, responded to their penalty shootout loss to second-tier Dunfermline last weekend by making three changes.

The game’s first chance arrived after 12 minutes, with Maeda’s close-range shot bravely blocked. Ten minutes on, Falkirk’s Brad Spencer unleashed a long-range volley, forcing Viljami Sinisalo into a sharp save to keep the scores level.

It was Maeda who gave Celtic the lead on the half-hour mark, though, when he forced an error from Falkirk’s Keely Adams and fired home from 35 yards, past Nicky Hogarth, who had been caught off his line. Maeda looked to beat Hogarth from range again just moments later, but the Scot was equal to it this time around.

The Bairns looked to draw themselves level before the break, but their cross was thwarted by Liam Scales, and the resultant corner was headed away by Auston Trusty. Dylan Tait came close to an equaliser moments later, but he couldn’t keep his header under control, sending it high and wide of the Celtic goal. Instead, the Hoops doubled their lead before half-time, when Tierney rifled the ball in off the crossbar, giving his side a 2-0 lead going in at the break.

Celtic won a free-kick in a dangerous area early in the second half, but Engels’ cross could only find a Falkirk head. Hyun-Jun Yang had the ball in the net for a Celtic third just before the hour mark, but was ruled offside. O’Neill made his first change of the afternoon with an hour played, when Forrest was replaced by Tounekti, whilst Falkirk made a double change that saw Ethan Ross and Wilson replace Ben Broggio and Finn Yeats.

Falkirk sparked the game back into life with 20 minutes remaining, when Wilson’s volley flew past Sinisalo and into the top corner. Anthony Ralston was booked following the goal. Wilson also picked up a yellow card moments later after he fouled Tierney.

Tierney was then replaced by Marcelo Saracchi as part of a triple change for Celtic that also saw Ralston and Yang replaced by Alistair Johnston and Kelechi Iheanacho. Tait was shown a yellow card in the 77th minute for a foul on Engels inside the Celtic half. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was then introduced to proceedings, replacing Callum McGregor for the final 10 minutes.

Maeda netted a second in the 83rd minute to seal three points for the hosts, this time burying the ball into the bottom corner from inside the penalty area. Leon McCann was shown Falkirk’s third yellow of the day late in the match when he fouled Tounekti. Falkirk made their final change in the 90th minute, with Tait replaced by Henry Cartwright for the three additional minutes.

Falkirk won themselves a string of corners at the end of the match, but couldn’t make them count, meaning Celtic picked up an important win at home.