Five-star Celtic Seal 54th Scottish League Title

Glasgow, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 16th May, 2024) Celtic sealed a 54th Scottish league title in style with a 5-0 win at Kilmarnock on Wednesday to move six points clear of Rangers with just one game remaining.

The Hoops only needed a point at Rugby Park, where they had already lost twice this season.

But there was never any danger of a repeat of those defeats as goals from Adam Idah, Daizen Maeda and James Forrest put the visitors 3-0 up inside 35 minutes.

Matt O'Riley then struck twice in the second half to round off his outstanding season.

Celtic's 12th title in 13 years moves them to within one of Rangers' record 55 Scottish titles.

However, this was one of the closest run races of that streak as Brendan Rodgers' men blew a seven-point lead early in the season to trail Rangers with 10 games to go.

The return of key players from injury and Rodgers' experience proved key in the run-in as the former Liverpool boss maintained his record of never having lost a league title in two spells as Celtic manager.

"This one definitely feels something special after everything we've been through this season and the challenges we've had," said Rodgers.

"So pleased for the players because there has been a lot of negativity around, but they have kept with it and kept believing."

Rodgers sprang a surprise in his team selection for the trip to Killie as Idah replaced Kyogo Furuhashi in the only change from Saturday's 2-1 win over Rangers that virtually secured the title.

The decision to start the Irish international proved inspired as he opened the scoring by tapping home O'Riley's brilliant cross after just five minutes.

Idah's arrival on loan from Norwich in January was criticised at the time for a lack of ambition on the part of the Celtic board.

But the 23-year-old has scored eight league goals in 11 appearances to help his side over the line in the title race.