Celtic have clinched their 14th Scottish Premiership title in 15 years, and denied Hearts their first since 1960, after a late Daizen Maeda goal earned them a dramatic 3-1 win over their title rivals in Glasgow on Saturday.

Derek McInnes' Hearts had led the chasing pack since September and had seemed set to become the first team other than Celtic or Rangers to win the Scottish top flight since Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen in 1985.

But Celtic boss Martin O'Neill, who has twice stepped in to take the reins at Celtic this season, masterminded a comeback win on the final day that has kept the Old Firm's stranglehold on Scottish football intact.

After a controversial midweek VAR intervention allowed Celtic to keep the pressure on Hearts into the final day of the season, McInnes' side travelled to Celtic Park on Saturday, knowing a draw would be enough to win the club's first Scottish top flight title since 1960, but defeat would see it slip through their fingers.

Hearts captain Lawrence Shankland headed in from a corner to put the visitors in a commanding position, only for Arne Engels to level from the spot on the stroke of half-time after Celtic were awarded a penalty for a handball for the second time in four days.

The hosts dominated the second half, but a succession of missed chances had seemed to have let Hearts off the hook. However, Hearts' luck ran out when a low Callum Osmand cross was turned in by Maeda. The goal was initially ruled out for offside, but a VAR check showed Osmand was onside when making his run in behind.

Their title triumph was confirmed when Hearts threw everyone forward in the latter stages, leaving room for Celtic to break and Osmand to run most of the length of the pitch unopposed and score his team's third with the last kick of the game.

Emotions got the better of the home fans after Osmand's goal as hundreds of supporters entered the field of play and left the shattered Hearts players needing to be escorted down the tunnel to safety.

After some confusion, the officials decided against restarting the game.

Source: https://www.espn.com/soccer/story/_/id/48750098/celtic-deny-hearts-historic-title-clinch-14th-scottish-premiership-triumph-15-years