Celtic vs Hearts ends in chaos as players taken to dressing room after pitch invasion | Football | Sport

Celtic‘s title decider against Hearts was suspended before being ended early due to a mass pitch invasion in the dying seconds. It all went down to the final day, with Hearts leading in the table by a single point and needing to avoid defeat to win the league. They took the lead just before the break when Lawrence Shankland tapped home at the back post, sending the away end into raptures.

It didn’t take long until Celtic found a leveller from the penalty spot, courtesy of Arne Engels, after a clear handball inside the area. They ramped up the pressure in the closing stages in search of a decisive winner, which eventually arrived when Daizen Maeda found the back of the net just three minutes from time.

Hearts were forced to throw the kitchen sink at Celtic in eight minutes of stoppage time, sending goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow up for a late free-kick in the closing seconds.

However, it was cleared away and Callum Osmand was able to stroll through and slide the ball into an empty net, securing a 3-1 victory for Celtic and wrapping up the Scottish Premiership title.

The last goal sparked pandemonium at Parkhead as the home supporters flooded onto the pitch in scenes of wild celebration.

However, the final whistle hadn’t been blown and referee Don Robertson was forced to suspend the match, given that it was impossible to continue. Eventually, the game was ended early despite there still being time left to play.

Chris Sutton, the former Celtic striker, said on Sky Sports: “This is bedlam. I don’t know if the final whistle has gone. I can understand the excitement, but this is ridiculous. Celtic fans need to get off the pitch.”

It was a devastating end to the season for Hearts, who led the league for the vast majority of the campaign and were just minutes away from winning their first title since 1960.

Celtic, meanwhile, have now won five in a row after prevailing at the expense of their Edinburgh rivals on a highly dramatic final day.

Hoops captain Callum McGregor fought back tears after the final whistle as he said: “For the first time ever, I’m speechless. You see what it means to everyone. What a season.

“Everyone wrote us off. We knew we’d get a chance. We keep going and going. What a special group of people. Magical.”

Celtic defender Alistair Johnston added: “It’s the greatest league win, it must be of all time. Never count us out. We just felt like we were going to find a way. Unbelievable.”