🚨 Celtic beat Hearts to Scottish Premiership title after tense final day

🚨 Celtic beat Hearts to Scottish Premiership title after tense final day

Celtic have been crowned as the Scottish Premiership title winners for a fifth consecutive season after a thrilling 3-1 final-day win against Hearts.

Martin O'Neill's side ensured that the title race would go to the final day after a dramatic 3-2 win at Motherwell on Wednesday, where Kelechi Iheanacho scored a 98th-minute winner.

Hearts travelled to Glasgow with a two-point advantage over the Bhoys and the visitors had to win or draw to cinch their first title since 1960.

Celtic quickly took control of possession in the early stages, but a cagey opening took hold, with Hearts seemingly happy to allow the hosts to control the tempo.

The Edinburgh outfit then took a huge step towards the title as Lawrence Shankland bagged his 20th goal of the season with a thumping close-range header at the back post.

However, Hearts' lead was short-lived as Alexandros Kyziridis' handball gifted Celtic a penalty and Arne Engels slotted his spot-kick under Alexander Schwolow to set up an all-or-nothing second half.

Another tense period took hold after the break and Celtic started to push Hearts further back as the game edged towards a nail-biting conclusion.

Celtic had chances late on, with Iheanacho's turn and shot rattling the post in the 80th minute and Benjamin Nygren's powerful shot tipped over the bar by Alexander Schwolow.

The Hearts rearguard couldn't hold on and Daizen Maeda tapped in from Callum Osmand's low cross. There was hope for the visitors as the offside flag went up for offside, but a VAR check ensured the goal stood before Osmand turned goalscorer in the final minute to help Celtic to defend their title.