Celtic have moved level on points with Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts following a hard-won 3-1 victory over Falkirk at Celtic Park. Martin O'Neill's team took full advantage of playing before their title rivals, piling pressure on Rangers and Hearts, who play on Sunday. Daizen Maeda and Kieran Tierney scored excellent first-half goals, capitalizing on Falkirk's missed opportunities. Kyrell Wilson's sublime half-volley gave the visitors hope in the second period, but Maeda's second goal seven minutes from time secured crucial points in the title race.
Celtic have now won four consecutive matches and have four games left to defend their Premiership crown. Sixth-place Falkirk face an uphill battle to reach European spots, having won just one of their last five games in all competitions. The visitors started strongly, with Captain Brad Spencer having a volley pushed wide by Viljami Sinisalo, before Dylan Tait headed wide from a corner routine. However, Celtic's ruthlessness paid off as Maeda displayed his pressing abilities for the opening goal, pouncing on Keelan Adams' heavy touch before catching goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth off his line.
Tierney then stretched their advantage to two on the stroke of half-time, thumping a sixth goal of the season in off the crossbar. O'Neill's men controlled much of the second period, with Yang having a third goal ruled out for offside before Falkirk got back in it with 20 minutes to go.
Substitute Kyrell Wilson took Leon McCann's cross-field pass on the chest before unleashing an unstoppable half-volley to find the top corner from an acute angle. Wilson continued to look a threat as Falkirk sought an equalizer, but all hope of a point was extinguished with seven minutes remaining when Maeda scored his second of the afternoon. Maeda looked like his old self, getting on the end of Sebastian Tounekti's cutback to roll in his third goal in two matches.
Celtic manager Martin O'Neill praised the result and Maeda's performance, saying, 'The result was the most important thing. Daizen Maeda was phenomenal today... I thought he was tremendous today.' Falkirk manager John McGlynn was pleased with his team's performance, saying, 'I'm really pleased with the performance; it was a big test for us today mentally after losing the late goals against Rangers and the penalty shootout last week against Dunfermline.'