Kelechi Iheanacho announced his arrival in Scottish football in spectacular fashion as he scored a stoppage-time penalty to hand Celtic a 2-1 win over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park on Sunday.
The Nigerian striker only joined the Scottish champions earlier this month on a free transfer and was handed his debut in the tense contest.
Although he started on the bench, manager Brendan Rodgers introduced him with 20 minutes to go, and he delivered the decisive moment of the game.
Celtic looked in control when Daizen Maeda headed in Marcelo Saracchi’s superb delivery 10 minutes after the break. However, Kilmarnock fought back strongly and equalised through David Watson, who rose highest from a corner to beat Kasper Schmeichel.
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Late VAR drama hands Iheanacho the spotlight
As the match edged toward a draw, Celtic were thrown a lifeline in added time when a VAR review confirmed a handball inside the Kilmarnock box. With nerves of steel, Iheanacho stepped up and smashed the spot-kick high into the net with virtually the last kick of the game.
The goal not only sealed three points but also maintained Celtic’s unbeaten start to the Scottish Premiership season. More importantly, it gave the 28-year-old forward the perfect debut, instantly endearing him to the Celtic supporters who celebrated wildly in the stands.
Furthermore, the dramatic finish showed how composed Iheanacho was under pressure and his potential to play a decisive role in the champions’ campaign. Rodgers praised his impact, while fans will already be hoping this is a sign of things to come.
Tags: Kelechi Iheanacho, Celtic debut, Kilmarnock, Scottish Premier League, SPL, Brendan Rodgers.
