Idah at the double to deliver Celtic win over Motherwell | OneFootball

Scottish PremiershipSunday, February 25, 2024Fir Park, Motherwell

MOTHERWELL… 1(Spittal 43)

CELTIC… 3(Idah 51 & 90+4, Luis Palma 90+6)

Celtic produced another stoppage time showing at Fir Park to come from behind to win 3-1 over Motherwell with two goals in added time.

Having fallen behind to Blair Spittal’s opener in the first-half, Adam Idah was introduced from the bench at half-time and quickly equalised to get Celtic back on track.

Then in the fourth minute of added time, the Republic of Ireland internationalist bagged a dramatic second goal, with Luis Palma adding some gloss in the 96th minute to seal a huge three points in Lanarkshire.

It was a bright start at Fir Park, with Greg Taylor having the first shot on target after two minutes but his powerful drive from the edge of the box was held by a diving Liam Kelly.

One minute later and the hosts had the ball in the net through on-form Theo Bair. However, the former St Johnstone striker strayed offside when gathering the through ball.

Jack Vale then tested Joe Hart on the 12th minute when he cut in from the left and curled a low shot straight down the keeper’s throat.

The game quietened until the half-hour mark when Georgie Gent fired over from Motherwell from a promising position on the left around 16 yards from goal.

Celtic sparked into action three minutes later, with Kyogo almost finding the net for the third successive game after receiving Callum McGregor’s wonderful threaded pass, but an on-rushing Kelly kept him out.

But with two minutes to go in the half, it was Motherwell that had the lead at the break when Blair Spitall curled a first-time shot into the far-left corner from 20 yards after Lennon Miller’s set-up play.

At half-time, the manager brought on Adam Idah for Kyogo and within six minutes the striker had equalised for the Hoops.

It was a stunning header from the Republic of Ireland striker, as he leapt highest in the box to meet Taylor’s deep delivery and power the ball into the far-right corner.

Joe Hart announced this week he would be retiring at the end of the season, but he showed his reflexes remain as quick as ever as he reacted to tip Miller’s header from close range over the bar in the 56th minute.

With 20 minutes left on the clock, Daizen Maeda had a huge opportunity to give Celtic the lead when he met Alistair Johnston’s delivery but he headed wide from inside the six-yard box.

Three minutes later it was Maeda again with the big chance, but this time he steered Hyunjun Yang’s low cross into the box over the bar with a powerful first-time shot.

Celtic kept pushing for the winning goal and Liam Scales had a header held by Kelly with seven minutes remaining.

With five minutes remaining Idah headed a brilliant chance wide. Taylor again found the striker unmarked in the box with a deep cross and from a similar position to his goal, this time the on-loan Norwich man headed the wrong side of the post.

But Idah would not be undone, as in the 94th minute he pounced to grab the second goal as he turned Johnston’s low delivery into the near-post with a wonderful striker’s finish to send the Celtic fans wild.

It wouldn’t be the end of the scoring, however, as two minutes later Celtic pounced again, this time Luis Palma tapped in from close-range following Yang’s ball across the goal.

Three goals and three important points gained in very late fashion at Motherwell as the Celts move on to Dundee at Celtic Park this Wednesday night.