Celtic clinched their 54th Scottish league title in impressive fashion with a commanding 5-0 victory over Kilmarnock on Wednesday, extending their lead over Rangers to six points with just one game left in the season.
Despite having previously suffered two losses at Rugby Park during the season, Celtic showed no signs of faltering this time. They swiftly took control of the match with goals from Adam Idah, Daizen Maeda, and James Forrest, securing a 3-0 lead within the first 35 minutes. Matt O’Riley added two more goals in the second half to cap off a remarkable season for himself.
This victory marks Celtic’s 12th title in the last 13 years, bringing them within one title of Rangers’ record of 55 Scottish titles. The season, however, presented one of the tightest title races in recent memory, with Celtic overcoming a seven-point deficit earlier in the season to ultimately emerge victorious.
Key factors in Celtic’s success included the return of key players from injury and the managerial expertise of Brendan Rodgers, who maintained his unbeaten record in league title races during his two spells as Celtic manager.
Rodgers made a surprising decision in the team selection for the Kilmarnock match, opting to start Idah over Kyogo Furuhashi, a move that paid off as Idah swiftly found the back of the net. Despite initial criticism of Idah’s loan signing from Norwich in January, the 23-year-old proved his worth with eight league goals in 11 appearances.
Daizen Maeda also contributed with a goal, showcasing Celtic’s attacking prowess. O’Riley, who had a standout season, sealed the victory with two goals, capping off a remarkable campaign with a total of 18 goals and 18 assists.
