Celtic retain Scottish title with late goals sparking pitch invasion to leave Hearts devastated

Late goals from Daizen Maeda and Callum Osmand sealed the victory for Celtic, with the latter's strike - the last act of the match - sparking a pitch invasion from the home crowd.

Hearts required just a point to become champions of Scotland for the first time since 1960 and despite taking the lead through Lawrence Shankland, they were unable to see the match out.

Derek McInnes' side have led the league since September, but veteran manager Martin O'Neill rejuvenated Celtic and with seven wins in a row have pipped Hearts at the post.

The match started cagily, with Hearts happy to invite Celtic on to them. The hosts were unable to break down a well-organised unit in front of them and the visitors appeared comfortable with how the game was playing out.

A set-piece goal appeared the most likely route to an opener and so it proved on 42 minutes. Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley whipped in a devilish corner that Celtic keeper Viljami Sinisalo failed to reach and Hearts captain Shankland nodded in from close range.

Hearts, however, could not last out until half time. Celtic were awarded a penalty when Alexandros Kyziridis handled a cross from Kieran Tierney in the third minute of stoppage time and Arne Engels netted the penalty, the ball fizzing under keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had guessed the right way.

Celtic brought on Kelechi Iheanacho at the break to spruce up their attack and then Hearts were dealt an injury blow on 50 minutes when midfielder Beni Baningime was forced off with a muscle strain.

With time running out and Hearts continuing to hold firm, Celtic boss Martin O'Neill threw on Callum Osmand and the Welsh striker should have done better on 74 minutes when he went himself rather than picking out Daizen Maeda in a rare promising attack. Then Benjamin Nygren saw an effort from close range blocked by Kingsley before an Alistair Johnston free-kick whistled narrowly over the bar.

Celtic were now in the ascendancy and they came so close on 79 minutes when Iheanacho struck the inside of the post, before Nygren forced Schwolow into a smart stop as he turned over the Swede's netbound effort.

Celtic kept going and eventually found a goal on 88 minutes. Osmand broke down the left and drilled a low cross into the penalty box and Maeda scrambled the ball beyond Schwolow and into the net. While the effort was originally ruled out for offside, a VAR check deemed that the goal should stand and Celtic had the lead.

Eight minutes of stoppage time were added on and Hearts frantically pushed for a winner. They could not find it and Osmand walked the ball into the net on 97 minutes after the visitors pushed forward in search of a goal.

That goal sparked a pitch invasion, with Hearts players slumped to the turf as the title agonising slipped away from them.