Kelechi Iheanacho Nets Vital Late Winner for Celtic in Title Race Clash Against Dundee

Posted : 06 April 2026

Kelechi Iheanacho emerged as the savior for Celtic on Sunday evening as the defending champions secured a gritty 2-1 win over Dundee. The Nigerian international started the match on the bench but made a decisive impact after being introduced by interim manager Martin O'Neill. His late strike at Dens Park ensures that Celtic remain firmly in the hunt for the Scottish Premiership title.

The visitors began the game with intent and took an early lead through Hyun-Jun Yang. The South Korean winger found the net in the eighth minute after getting a subtle touch on a shot from Benjamin Nygren. Celtic dominated the early proceedings and should have doubled their advantage before the break. However, on-loan forward Tomas Cvancara was uncharacteristically wasteful, missing two clear-cut opportunities to put the game to bed.

Dundee took advantage of Celtic's inability to capitalize on their dominance during the second half. Following a VAR review, referee Steven McLean awarded a penalty to the hosts after full-back Colby Donovan was judged to have handled the ball. Dundee captain Simon Murray stepped up and confidently converted the spot-kick to level the score.

With the title race hanging in the balance, O'Neill turned to Iheanacho to provide the clinical edge missing from the attack. The former Manchester City man did not disappoint, reacting quickest to a cross from Marcelo Saracchi. He lashed a powerful left-footed shot past goalkeeper Jon McCracken to spark wild celebrations among the traveling supporters.

In the final minutes of the match, Dundee's frustrations boiled over as Ryan Astley was shown a straight red card. The defender was dismissed for a reckless challenge on Yang, ending any hopes of a second comeback for the home side. The victory is particularly significant as it ends a poor run for Celtic in Tayside, where they had lost three times earlier this season.

Interim boss Martin O'Neill praised Iheanacho's contribution, noting that the 29-year-old forward looks sharp and full of confidence. The result leaves the Scottish Premiership table incredibly tight with only six games remaining. Celtic now sit in third place with 64 points, trailing rivals Rangers by one point and leaders Hearts by three. O'Neill emphasized that his team is ready to fight until the very end of the campaign.

Kelechi Iheanacho Nets Vital Late Winner for Celtic in Title Race Clash Against Dundee

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