Monday, July 13, 2026

Kelechi’s late penalty keeps Celtic top with 2-1 over Kilmarnock

Kilmarnock hit back against the run of play in the closing stages when David Watson powered in a header from a Greg Kiltie corner.

• September 14, 2025
Kelechi Iheanacho
Kelechi Iheanacho [Credit; celticfc on Instagram]

Nigerian striker Kelechi Iheanacho made an instant impact on his debut, scoring a stoppage-time penalty to give Celtic a 2–1 win over Kilmarnock in the Premiership.

Signed late in the window, a former Leicester City striker came off the bench late in the game and delivered when it mattered most.

Celtic had control from the start but failed to turn possession into goals in the first half. The biggest talking point before the break came from the stands, as travelling fans staged a delayed entrance in protest against the club’s board.

The breakthrough finally came shortly after the break, Marcelo Saracchi delivered a perfect cross for Daizen Maeda to head home.

Kilmarnock hit back against the run of play in the closing stages when David Watson powered in a header from a Greg Kiltie corner.

But Celtic had the last word in added time after a controversial handball from Kiltie in the box handed Iheanacho the chance, and the striker buried the spot-kick to seal the points and net his first goal since March.

The result keeps Celtic top of the Scottish Premiership and extends their unbeaten start to five matches as they chase a fifth straight league title, while Kilmarnock suffer their first defeat of the season.

Iheanacho joined the Scottish side late in the transfer window after parting ways with Sevilla through a mutual contract termination, aiming for a fresh challenge and consistent minutes under Brendan Rodgers.

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