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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Craig Swan

Celtic secure 50th title and spark 8 in a row party after victory over Aberdeen

Defensive heroes Mikael Lustig and Jozo Simunovic scored searing headers as Celtic wrapped up their 50th title, the Daily Record reports .

Neil Lennon completed his mission to get the side over the line after a hard-fought triumph in the Granite City which was sealed in the closing seconds by a third goal from Odsonne Edouard.

The Northern Irishman won the first three of the club’s current run of title triumphs and returned after the controversial departure of Brendan Rodgers to tick-off Eight in a Row.

Lustig and Simunovic were fitting scorers on the big day for the manager.

Both the Swede and the Croat had dropped out of favour with Rodgers, but have been restored to the set-up by Lennon and offered a handsome payback.

(SNS)

Lustig’s first-half opener set the champions on their way and Simunovic’s towering header sealed the deal before Edouard’s sweet finish.

Celtic are now just one win over Hearts in the William Hill Scottish Cup Final from securing a magical Treble Treble as their remarkable run of silverware success sits at eight-straight domestic trophies.

Aberdeen didn’t want a Parkhead party to ensue on their own patch and could have turned up the heat on the Hoops had James Wilson taken even one of the two glorious chances he missed with the scoreline at 0-0.

In the end, the Dons were punished ruthlessly for the striker’s misses and a second-successive loss leaves them to clinging to third place in the table with Kilmarnock on their heels.

Celtic, though, have no worries about being caught as the title celebrations got going.

(SNS)

Lennon’s men had to fight for their win as, while Edouard failed to take a terrific one-on-one chance against Joe Lewis and James Forrest shot just wide, it was Aberdeen who had the clearest chances in the opening period before the visitors went in front.

Wilson missed them both. The first was a tricky chance from a volley after a Greg Stewart cross which bounced up off the turf and against the top of the crossbar.

The second, however, was a snip after a brilliant Scott McKenna run from defence and accurate pass found Sam Cosgrove in the box. 

The striker’s excellent first-time shot was superbly saved by Scott Bain, yet Wilson somehow clipped the outside of a post from the rebound with the goal at his mercy.

(REUTERS)

Aberdeen would pay the ultimate price for those misses five minutes from the interval.

Callum McGregor’s skidding ball towards the back post found Lustig who had crept around the back of Stevie May.

The Swede’s chance was difficult, but his diving header was sensational and crashed beyond Lewis to put the champions a step nearer to glory.

Wilson wasted another great chance after the restart and his pain was doubled when Simunovic made it 2-0 with his second goal in seven days.

Edouard was denied by Lewis, but, when McGregor swung the resultant corner kick to the back stick, the Croatian rose majestically to power home a header.

The Celtic players gathered together in the middle of the pitch after the counter. The flag was in the bag, yet there was still time for icing to be put onto the cake by Edouard.

The French striker was picked out in a counter-attack by Tom Rogic and stepped inside to stroke home a third.

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