Celtic 3-1 Hearts | Scottish Premiership | 16 May 2026

Result Summary

A dramatic finale at Celtic Park saw Martin O'Neill's side complete a stunning comeback to defeat Hearts 3-1 in what proved to be a chaotic and compelling Premiership encounter. Lawrence Shankland's first-half header had threatened to gift Derek McInnes' visitors a famous result, but Celtic's relentless pressure eventually told in an extraordinary final stretch of injury time, with substitute Callum Osmand emerging as the decisive figure.

Match Analysis

For the majority of this contest, Hearts were defying both the statistics and expectations. Celtic dominated possession emphatically — 67% of the ball to Hearts' 33% — and generated 99 attacks to the visitors' 85, with 55 dangerous attacks underlining the home side's sustained pressure. Yet it was Hearts who struck first and who came closest to holding on for something remarkable.

Shankland's 43rd-minute header, assisted by Stephen Kingsley, was against the run of play in terms of territory but was clinically taken, rewarding Hearts' disciplined defensive shape and willingness to threaten on the counter. Celtic's 14 total shots against Hearts' 12 tells a story of a match more competitive than the final scoreline suggests — but Celtic's superior shot accuracy ultimately proved the difference, with 5 shots on target to Hearts' 2.

The booking count reflected a febrile atmosphere. Alistair Johnston and Michael Steinwender both received yellows in quick succession before half-time, and Celtic's Benjamin Nygren and Auston Trusty were carded in the early second half. Celtic's half-time substitution of Sebastian Tounekti for Kelechi Promise Iheanacho injected fresh energy, while Hearts also reshuffled significantly, making four changes across the second period.

A VAR decision at 88 minutes involving Callum Osmand appeared to momentarily cloud proceedings, but the substitute was soon writing his name into the match's story. Daizen Maeda broke the deadlock in the 87th minute, finishing from Osmand's assist to level, and what followed in a breathless stoppage time was remarkable — Osmand himself completed the turnaround in the 90+8th minute, converting from Callum McGregor's assist to seal a 3-1 Celtic victory. The closing stages dissolved into a series of bookings, including Osmand's goal scorer Maeda receiving a yellow for time-wasting and McGregor being cautioned for a foul moments before he turned provider.

Celtic's 82% successful pass completion rate versus Hearts' 57% illustrates the technical gulf between the sides, even if Hearts showed commendable organisation and threat for long periods. Celtic's nine corners and 12 key passes further highlight how persistently they probed Derek McInnes' structure.

Prediction Review

Our pre-match forecast called a Celtic win at 58.5% probability, with the final score projected at 2-1 — a correct directional prediction, and impressively close to the actual scoreline before Celtic's late surge made it 3-1. The moderate confidence rating of 59/100 appropriately reflected Hearts' capacity to make this difficult, which they emphatically did for most of the 90 minutes. The narrative — Celtic dominating, Hearts being competitive and threatening — aligned closely with what the analysis anticipated.

Key Takeaways

• Celtic's depth and resilience proved decisive: second-half substitutes, most notably Callum Osmand, turned a losing position into a comfortable-looking victory.
• Hearts' defensive structure was admirable for long spells, and Shankland's goal demonstrated their cutting edge on limited opportunities.
• The closing minutes were remarkable for their drama, with multiple bookings on both sides highlighting the tension of a match that swung dramatically in Celtic's favour.
• Martin O'Neill's side demonstrated the character of champions, refusing to let a late deficit define their afternoon.