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Celtic beat Hearts to retain Scottish Premiership title / Photo: ANDY BUCHANAN - AFP
Celtic beat Hearts to retain Scottish Premiership title
Celtic clinched the Scottish Premiership title on Sunday as Kyogo Furuhashi and Oh Hyeon-gyu netted in a 2-0 win at 10-man Hearts.
The victory secured the title with four games to spare for Ange Postecoglou's men, who are on course for a domestic treble of trophies.
The Hoops have now won 11 titles in 12 years and could yet end the season by surpassing their record points tally of 106.
"I'm just really proud of this group of players and staff. They've maintained an absolutely ridiculous standard this year. They are relentless in their approach," said Postecoglou.
"Having success last year, you always worry as a manager - are they going to be as hungry?
"From the first day, they haven't let up and it's a credit to every single one of them."
Celtic were not at their sparkling best at Tynecastle, but Hearts were left with a mountain to climb when Alex Cochrane was sent off just before half-time.
Cochrane clipped Daizen Maeda as the Japanese international bore down on goal, but it took a VAR review for referee Nick Walsh to show the red card for denying a clear goalscoring opportunity.
The visitors took their time to make the man advantage count, but it was fitting that Kyogo should score the decisive goal in winning Celtic a 53rd Scottish title.
The Japanese striker prodded home his 30th goal of the season and 50th for the club from Reo Hatate's cross 23 minutes from time.
Kyogo injured himself in the act of scoring but his replacement Oh came on to make sure of the points.
The South Korean international cushioned Aaron Mooy's cross into the far corner for his fourth goal since arriving in January.
Celtic could also surpass a club record of 116 goals in a league season after reaching 105 with four games to spare.
"I think we can get there," said Celtic captain Callum McGregor, who has now won 18 major honours.
"We are certainly on the right track but we need to keep going.
"You get over the line, you get more experience, you want to do it again and in more style. I feel like we’ve done that this season."
Hearts' hopes of finishing third behind the Old Firm were at least aided by Rangers' 1-0 win over Aberdeen.
Todd Cantwell scored the only goal at Ibrox to cut Celtic's lead at the top to 13 points.
Aberdeen remain five points ahead of Hearts after their first defeat in eight games.
D.Fischer--BlnAP
