Celtic secured a vital 3-1 win over Falkirk at Celtic Park, drawing level on points with league leaders Hearts and keeping the title race wide open. Martin O'Neill's side made the most of playing in front of a home crowd and used the occasion to apply pressure on both Rangers and Hearts ahead of their crucial Sunday fixtures. The Japanese forward Daizen Maeda and left‑back Kieran Tierney opened the scoring with two first‑half strikes, exploiting Falkirk's wasteful finishing.
Maeda, who had already impressed in the semi‑final against St Mirren, showed his trademark work rate and composure, while Tierney added a powerful header that left the visitors reeling. Falkirk did manage to pull a goal back in the second half through a brilliant half‑volley from substitute Kyrell Wilson, giving them a glimmer of hope for a comeback. However, the joy was short‑lived. Seven minutes from the final whistle Maeda struck again, his second of the evening, to seal the three points and put Celtic back in the hunt for the crown.
The win marks Celtic's fourth consecutive victory as they head into the final four games of the season with a chance to retain the Premiership trophy. Meanwhile, sixth‑placed Falkirk find themselves in a tough battle for a European‑qualification spot after a disappointing run of just one win in their last five matches across all competitions. Their squad had already been hit hard by injuries to key players Scott Bain, Filip Lissah and Liam Henderson, who all missed the match after being hurt in the Scottish Cup semi‑final loss to rivals Dunfermline Athletic.
Despite the injury list, Falkirk started the better of the two sides. Captain Brad Spencer unleashed a clean, long‑range volley that was narrowly saved by Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo, and a well‑delivered corner saw Dylan Tait miss a headed effort. Yet, as John McGlynn’s men have learned in previous encounters with the champions, the margin for error is razor‑thin.
Maeda’s opening goal was a textbook example of his pressing ability. He reacted instantly to a heavy touch from Keelan Adams on the halfway line, rushed onto the ball and, with a swift first‑time strike, beat goalkeeper Nicky Hogarth who was caught off his line. Tierney then doubled the lead just before the break, heading home a cross that had rattled the cross‑bar, completing a swift counter‑attack that left Falkirk scrambling to recover.
The second half saw Celtic dominate possession and create several chances. While striker Yang had a goal disallowed for off‑side, Falkirk managed to get back into the game with 20 minutes left when Wilson received a long pass from Leon McCann, controlled it on his chest and unleashed a ferocious half‑volley that flew into the top corner from a tight angle. The goal sparked a brief surge of optimism among the visitors, but Celtic’s defence held firm. The final blow came in the 83rd minute when Maeda, who had not found the net in his previous 17 league outings, pounced on a cut‑back from Sebastian Tounekti and slotted home his third goal in two matches.
The strike effectively extinguished any lingering hopes of a draw and underscored Maeda’s resurgence at a critical juncture of the campaign. Celtic manager Martin O'Neill praised his side’s resilience after the match, highlighting Maeda’s performance: "Daizen Maeda was phenomenal today… I thought he was tremendous. I'm delighted with the result and with a number of performances.
There's been a lot of adversity, but the players have shown immense character." He also reflected on the broader title picture, noting the closeness of the competition: "I remember years ago worrying about what Rangers might do the next day. Hearts have shown great resilience, it's a three‑horse race." Falkirk’s boss John McGlynn, despite the defeat, expressed satisfaction with his team’s effort: "I'm really pleased with the performance; it was a big mental test after losing the late goals against Rangers and the penalty miss against Dunfermline.
We gave it a good go, the stats don’t show it, but the mentality was great." Looking ahead, Celtic have four matches remaining and sit just a point away from the top three, meaning every result will be decisive. If they can maintain their current form and keep the momentum built by this victory, they will be well‑placed to challenge for the title in the closing stages of the season. Fans can continue to follow the drama of the Scottish Premiership live on Sky Sports or via the NOW streaming service, with additional interactive features such as the Super 6 competition offering a chance to win £250,000. The race for the league crown remains wide open, and Celtic’s recent display suggests they are prepared to fight until the final whistle.