Super-sub Iheanacho delighted to secure Celtic’s vital victory
Senior Man ends six-month drought Kelechi Iheanacho gave Celtic’s championship aspirations a massive boost yesterday, coming off the bench to net a dramatic 82nd-minute winner against Dundee at Dens Park.
Senior Man ends six-month drought
- By Morakinyo Abodunrin with Agency Reports
Kelechi Iheanacho gave Celtic’s championship aspirations a massive boost yesterday, coming off the bench to net a dramatic 82nd-minute winner against Dundee at Dens Park. The Nigerian international’s clinical strike secured a 2-1 victory, ending a personal six-month goal drought and narrowing the gap at the top of the William Hill Premiership to just three points.
Introduced by manager Martin O’Neill as a second-half substitute for Tomas Cvancara, Iheanacho provided the physical presence Celtic had lacked for much of the match. The decisive moment arrived eight minutes from time when the striker out-muscled Dundee defender Ryan Astley to control Marcelo Saracchi’s cross before firing home from six yards.
The goal—his fourth of the season and first since early October—marked a triumphant return from a series of major hamstring injuries. His impact was immediate, solving a scoring crisis that had seen Celtic’s starting centre-forwards go 12 consecutive games
Speaking to Celtic TV after the game, the 29-year-old striker expressed his relief at helping the "Hoops" register another vital league win after his long spell on the sidelines.
"It feels good to help the team to get the win today," Iheanacho said. "We really showed character and we really worked hard. I think, especially in the first-half, we blew them away and had a few chances, but unfortunately it didn’t click.
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"In the second-half they came back and scored the penalty, but at the end we got the points which is massive. I’ve been out for a while so it feels good to be back."
Yesterday, the pressure exerted by the Nigerian forward eventually told on the Dundee defense. Just two minutes after his goal, Ryan Astley was shown a straight red card for a desperate challenge on Yang Hyun-jun, who had scored Celtic's early opener.
The victory represents a significant shift in the title race, allowing Celtic to capitalize on league leaders Hearts dropping points earlier in the day.
For O’Neill, Iheanacho’s return to form offers a vital tactical solution. With fellow attackers Daizen Maeda and Junior Adamu struggling for consistency, Iheanacho’s proven finishing looks set to anchor the Celtic frontline for the remainder of the campaign.
