Kelechi Iheanacho made an instant impact on his Celtic debut by scoring the winning goal from the penalty spot with virtually the last kick of the game, much to the delight of the travelling Celtic support at Rugby Park and the rest watching on Sky Sports or Celtic TV…
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
It was a big goal in more ways than one, for both the club and the player and will prove to be a pivotal moment in the long run. This was a game that should Celtic win a record breaking 56th title this season, we’ll look back on in April or May 2025 and recall that spot-kick as a pivotal moment in the league campaign.
Kelechi showed true strength and character to step up and convert the opportunity, and had he fluffed his lines, the consequences for both him and the rest of the side would have been catastrophic. It was however a wise managerial call from the touchline to tell Benjamin Nygren to hand the ball to the former Leicester City striker.
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates scoring the winner for Celtic at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Kelechi has been a little bit lost football-wise since leaving Leicester City and that goal for this club and our support might just turn all that around for the centre-forward and Celtic Park may well become his own Paradise. That’s certainly why Brendan over-ruled the players to make sure Iheanacho was given the opportunity and the responsibility.
Afterwards Kelechi told Celtic TV:
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates with Brendan Rodgers at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
“I’ll feeling really, really good. It’s the last kick of the game and I got to take it, so I’m really happy. I’m happy for the opportunity and I could see how the fans feel after that goal. It was a really important goal so I’m happy. It’s a great feeling but, at the same time, there’s a lot of pressure as well with the spot-kick. But I just took it with composure and we win the three points today which is massive, and hopefully there are many more to come.”
The team despite putting in a decent showing would have been unduly criticised by the supporters and the gleeful SMSM for throwing away the chance to go top of the table, and our character would have been called into question with the clouds currently surrounding the club growing ever so darker.
Kelechi Iheanacho celebrates with Brendan Rodgers at Rugby Park, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Kelechi himself would have faced even more scrutiny due to the circumstances over his signing, and it would have heaped further pressure on the Nigerian international going forward.
The situation bears a striking resemblance to the one just over 18 months ago when Adam Idah who himself as well as the team were under much scrutiny during a crucial league clash at Easter Road, and like Iheanacho he showed great reliance in scoring a late pressure opportunity from the spot.
That goal proved to kickstart a superb run of form for both club and player, let’s hope this situation is the same and history repeats itself, like it did at Rugby Park yesterday. How many late winners is that now down there?
Rugby Park from above, Kilmarnock v Celtic, 14 September 2025. Photo Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)
Meanwhile don’t miss Sandman’s Definitive Ratings from yesterday match which are available now on The Celtic Star, link below…
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
READ THIS…Sandman’s Definitive Ratings – Celtic at The Gene-Swamp
And if you are thinking about ordering a copy of David Potter’s final Celtic book, Celtic in the Eighties, which is out now on Celtic Star Books, then you’ll need to be quick. We’ve had a remarkable response so far and have just over 100 books remaining. When they’re gone, they’re gone…
🍀 Celtic in the Eighties.🍀
The final chapter from the late and much-missed David Potter. 💚
Our fastest-selling book ever. 🍀⭐️📚
Order now at https://t.co/jXLgPJMlRm for uplift tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/1PTgyu9DsT
— Matt Corr (@Boola_vogue) September 14, 2025
Celtic in the Eighties – Out now, it’s our fastest selling book ever and accordingly stocks are now very low indeed, so get it while you can!…
Celtic in the Eighties by the late, great David Potter is out now on Celtic Star Books. Celtic in the Eighties is now available in the Celtic superstore and all other club shops. And don’t forget that you can still purchase your copy directly from Celticstarbooks.com for same day postage.
Order Celtic in the Eighties today, you’ll be glad you did, it’s a fabulous read!
OUT NOW! Celtic in the Eighties by David Potter. Foreword by Danny McGrain. Published on Celtic Star Books. Click on image to order.
Nonsense. It’s just a penalty kick !
He is no hero at all.
He doesn’t deserve such an article (yet, maybe).
Let’s hope he’s not hounded out by the keyboard warriors like Idah was
On the penalty. IT WAS A PENALTY. The culprit blocked a goal-scoring opportunity with his arms up in an unnatural position in front of his face and body.. Also, there were another couple of Celtic players loitering should the shot be blocked, to latch on to any resulting rebound.
A certain Celtic blog reported former referee Mark Clattenburg as saying it was a harsh decision on Kilmarnock. NOTE: As far as i’m aware Clattenburg has no experience of the modern assistant we call VAR. Also, that same Celtic blog produced another article on the incident. The article gives a clear explanation from The SFA, no friends of Celtic, to the BBC Scotland. But still, we have amateur BBC Scotland pundits calling the decision “contentious.”
There was absolutely NOTHING contentious about it.
can’t judge him on a penalty ,see how he does in a full match
some folk just blow their load at a penalty
see the fatty wore a xxxl shirt to cover his obese frame