Celtic don catch up with league leaders Hearts for points, thanks to goals from Daizen Maeda and Kieran Tierney. Di match wey dem play for Celtic Park see di Bhoys win 2-0 against Falkirk, making dem level on points with Hearts for top of Scottish Premiership.
Pat Bonner, former Celtic goalkeeper wey dey talk for BBC Sportsound, praise di finish from Tierney. ‘What a good finish! E start with that man Maeda again, winning di ball back for critical area and playing am into im path. Tierney hits am with real pace,’ Bonner yarn.
Di first goal come from Daizen Maeda wey steal di ball from Falkirk defender Keelan Adams. Adams bash im attempted clearance against Maeda, and di Celtic forward lash di ball low from far out, pass stranded goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth. Bonner talk: ‘Quite incredible. How many times we don see Daizen Maeda do that? Di tenacity and speed to go and close people down. E get im reward for am.’
Di second goal na Kieran Tierney wey crash in an unstoppable shot after Maeda set am up. Di ball be like blur as e go under di crossbar. Di Scotland full-back show real power with dat strike.
Falkirk no come to just defend; dem get dia own chances. Brad Spencer loop deep cross from short corner and Dylan Tait get first touch but e skew di ball well wide from promising position. Liam Scales make important front post block as Falkirk slice through with slick passes. Calvin Miller also hook volley wey spin wide, almost equalise.
But Celtic defence stand strong. Goalkeeper Viljami Sinisalo make good save to push away shot from Brad Spencer. Nicky Hogarth for Falkirk side also make diving save to keep out long-range effort from Anthony Ralston. Di match be like rollercoaster, with both sides attacking.
Ian McCall, former Falkirk manager, comment for BBC Sportsound: ‘Di number of turnovers after seven or eight minutes is unbelievable. E dey hectic, e dey 100 miles an hour. You fit still be composed and play at dat pace, but neither side dey show dat right now.’
Celtic now dey third for table but level on points with leaders Hearts. Di title race dey hot as only five games remain. Next up for Celtic na crucial match against Rangers and Hearts. Falkirk remain sixth, still hoping to push into European places.
Injury problems dey worry Celtic, with Kasper Schmeichel, Colby Donovan, Julian Araujo, Alistair Johnston, Cameron Carter-Vickers, Adam Montgomery, Jota, and Callum Osmand all out. But Kelechi Iheanacho wey score twice from bench for semi-final fit start. Falkirk miss Coll Donaldson and Louie Marsh due to fitness issues.
Di match see Celtic dominate possession and create more chances. Arne Engels have pop from 20 yards but im shot zoom high over target. Yang Hyun-Jun give ball away carelessly for im own half, but Falkirk no fit capitalise. Benjamin Nygren swing corner but visitors deal with am easily.
Overall, Celtic show di spirit of champions. Dem fight for every ball and take chances wey come dem way. Di title race go continue to di wire.
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