Celtic celebrate history-making league title success
Grand exit for Chelsea legend
CELTIC became the first Scottish Premiership club to go unbeaten through a 38-game season, when they defeated Hearts 2-0 yesterday to win the league by a mammoth 30 points.
Second-half goals by Leigh Griffiths and Stuart Armstrong ensured Celtic ended up with a record of played 38, won 34 and drew four.
They plundered 106 goals on the way and under former Liverpool boss, Brendan Rodgers, can seal a domestic treble – their first since 2001 – next Saturday, if they beat Aberdeen in the Scottish Cup final.
Celtic, who were presented with the Premiership trophy for the sixth time in a row after the match, also set a new points record of 106 – their nearest “challengers” were Aberdeen, way back on 76.
Before the match an emotional tribute was paid to Celtic’s 1967 European Cup winning side – affectionately known as the Lisbon Lions – and by kick-off the noise reverberating around Celtic Park was deafening.
Celtic started brightly, Griffiths curling a free-kick into the side netting before a fierce effort from Kieran Tierney dipped just over the bar.
However, it was Hearts who came closest to an opener midway through the half. CHELSEA legend John Terry’s final appearance at Stamford Bridge ended with his teammates forming a guard of honour as he exited in the 26th minute of the Premier League clash with Sunderland.
The 36-year-old – the time of his premature departure chiming with his shirt number – looked visibly moved when he was replaced by Gary Cahill, who has also stepped in and skippered the team on the pitch to the title this season.
Terry – who leaves Chelsea at the end of this season after 22 years with them – also exited to a standing
Jozo Simunovic’s foul handed the visitors a free-kick on the edge of the box, which was rolled into the path of Alexandros Tziolis and his angled strike flew narrowly over.
Celtic had scored in every domestic fixture under Rodgers, so it seemed inevitable they would eventually break Hearts’ resolve.
The breakthrough came five minutes after the break.
On-loan Manchester City star Patrick Roberts, drifted past a couple of Hearts defenders before lofting a cross into the box from the right, where Scottish striker, Griffiths, applied the finishing touch as he sent a downward header bouncing into the net.
The pair combined again moments later, with Griffiths taking a pass from the English winger on the chest before firing into the side netting.
Celtic set a new goal-scoring record in the 75th minute as Armstrong doubled their advantage.
Griffiths’ cross was cut out by the Hearts defence but it only went as far as Armstrong, who lifted his shot high into the net
On Saturday, Inverness Caledonian Thistle were relegated to the Championship division despite their 3-2 win over Motherwell after Hamilton’s 4-0 win over Dundee ensured they will face Dundee United in the play-off final. — AFP ovation from the fans.
Terry, though, returned to the pitch after the match to lift the Premier League trophy, the 15th piece of silverware he has lifted and may get to also raise the FA Cup if Chelsea beat Arsenal on Saturday.
Former Tottenham, Barcelona and England striker Gary Lineker was quick to take to twitter to pay tribute to the central defender.
“John Terry’s magnificent Chelsea career ends after 26 minutes of his final match. A great defender. A real leader. And a winner,” tweeted Lineker. — AFP