Scottish Premiership
Sunday, May 3 2026
Easter Road, Edinburgh

HIBERNIAN…1
(Newell 45+3)

CELTIC…2
(Maeda 41 & Iheanacho 72)

Celtic will return to Glasgow with three precious points after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road moved Martin O’Neill’s side level with Hearts at the top of the Scottish Premiership table.

In a game packed with drama, VAR checks, a red card and long spells of Celtic pressure, the Hoops found a way to get the job done in Edinburgh, with goals from Daizen Maeda and substitute Kelechi Iheanacho proving decisive.

Celtic made a strong start and created a big early opening after excellent work from Maeda, who won possession from Jack Iredale high up the pitch.

Yang pounced on the loose pass, drove into the box and looked to cut the ball back for Benjamin Nygren, whose right-footed effort was blocked by Rocky Bushiri.

Moments later, Callum McGregor lifted a clever pass over the Hibernian defence to find Maeda, who timed his run well and took the ball down before firing over the bar as Celtic continued to look dangerous in the opening stages.

There was then a VAR check for a possible penalty after Maeda appeared to be clipped inside the box by Jordan Smith, but after a review, the decision was made not to award a spot-kick.

The game’s first major turning point arrived after 19 minutes when Jamie McGrath was initially shown a yellow card for a late challenge on Alistair Johnston.

Referee David Dickinson was then sent to the monitor, and after reviewing the incident, upgraded the punishment to a red card, leaving Hibernian to play the rest of the match with 10 men.

Celtic continued to press for the opener, and Yang almost created it with a brilliant pass on the counter-attack to release Maeda. The Japanese forward stayed onside and timed his run well, but pulled his shot just wide of Jordan Smith’s goal.

Johnston, making his first start since October, was heavily involved down the right and picked out Sebastian Tounekti at the back post with a lofted ball. The Tunisian controlled it well and found Nygren, whose left-footed strike was parried away by Smith.

The breakthrough finally arrived four minutes before the interval. Following a well-worked move, Johnston fired the ball across the six-yard box, where Maeda was on hand to tap home from close-range.

Assistant referee Douglas Ross initially raised his flag for offside, but VAR overturned the decision after replays showed Maeda was behind the pass, giving Celtic a deserved 1-0 lead.

However, Hibernian found a leveller deep into first-half stoppage time. Cadden’s delivery to the back post was headed back into the danger area by Martin Boyle, and after Viljami Sinisalo was unable to clear strongly enough, Joe Newell prodded the ball home.

After a lengthy VAR check for offside and handball, the goal was awarded, giving the 10 men a lifeline.

Iheanacho is Celtic's super sub as he fires Hoops to victory over Hibs