Celtic takes late lead with Maeda goal

Celtic and Hearts arrived at Celtic Park on Saturday, May 16, for a final-day Scottish Premiership match that would decide the title. Sky Sports said Hearts would be champions with a draw or win, while Celtic needed a victory to defend the championship after cutting the gap to one point in midweek. The build-up was shaped by a late Celtic goal at Motherwell, a disputed VAR handball decision and a week in which Daizen Maeda again became one of the season’s central figures. ### How did this become a title decider on the final day? Hearts began the week in front and had led the title race for most of the season, according to Sky Sports’ preview of Saturday’s match. A Celtic defeat or draw at Motherwell on May 13 would have left Hearts in a far stronger position going into the last round. Kelechi Iheanacho changed that in the 100th minute on Wednesday, May 13, when he converted a penalty in Celtic’s 3-2 win at Fir Park. (skysports.com) Sky Sports reported that the spot kick followed a VAR review for handball against Motherwell’s Sam Nicholson and left Celtic one point behind Hearts ahead of the meeting in Glasgow. ### Why was the Motherwell penalty such a big part of the build-up? Derek McInnes, the Hearts manager, called the decision “disgusting” in comments reported by Sky Sports on May 14. Sky Sports said the award came after referee John Beaton was sent to the monitor and judged Nicholson to have handled the ball in the box. (skysports.com) Police Scotland became involved the next day after Beaton’s personal information was shared online, Sky Sports reported on May 15. The broadcaster said a 19-year-old man was arrested in connection with a data protection offence, and the Scottish FA said it condemned attempts to compromise the safety of match officials. (skysports.com) ### Where does Daizen Maeda fit into this week’s story? Daizen Maeda had already played a decisive role in Celtic’s late push before Saturday’s meeting with Hearts. Sky Sports reported that the Japan forward scored twice in Celtic’s 3-1 win over Rangers on May 10, including an overhead kick that cut Hearts’ lead to one point. (skysports.com) Celtic’s own match reports also show Maeda scoring in a 2-1 win at Hibernian on May 3, part of a run that kept pressure on Hearts at the top of the table. By the time Celtic faced Hearts, Maeda had become one of the most productive players in the closing stretch of the campaign. ### What exactly was at stake at Celtic Park? (skysports.com) Sky Sports said before kickoff that Hearts would secure the championship if they avoided defeat at Celtic Park. The same preview said Celtic would retain the title with a win at home. Celtic Park also staged the match under unusual pressure after the fallout from the Motherwell decision. (celticfc.com) The Scottish FA said criticism and conspiracy claims around officiating had contributed to an environment that put referees at risk, according to Sky Sports’ report on May 15. (skysports.com) ### What comes next after the league finale? Celtic’s fixture list names Dunfermline Athletic as the club’s next opponent on Saturday, May 23, at Hampden. The club lists that match separately from the league schedule, making it the next dated first-team fixture after the Hearts game. Saturday’s result against Hearts settled the championship race first. The next formal marker on Celtic’s calendar is the May 23 meeting with Dunfermline Athletic, according to the club’s fixtures page. (skysports.com) (celticfc.com)