In a dramatic afternoon at a rain-swept Celtic Park, the reigning champions produced a stunning second-half turnaround to overcome a dogged Livingston side and maintain their pursuit at the summit of the Scottish Premiership.
The visitors, under the guidance of boss David Martindale, had executed a perfect game plan for the first hour, frustrating the hosts and taking a shock lead through substitute Daniel MacKay just after the interval.
Celtic's performance was plagued by a familiar profligacy in front of goal, with Kyogo Furuhashi and others spurning a host of golden opportunities. The atmosphere grew increasingly tense as the clock ticked down, with the prospect of a costly dropped points looming large.
Rodgers' Changes Spark Dramatic Revival
The introduction of Paulo Bernardo and Luis Palma proved to be the catalyst for a remarkable revival. The momentum shifted decisively when the lively Yang Hyun-jun was brought down in the box, allowing Matt O'Riley to coolly convert from the spot and finally break Livingston's resistance on the 76th minute.
Just five minutes later, the comeback was complete. Portuguese midfielder Paulo Bernardo, who had significantly invigorated Celtic's attack, unleashed a powerful, dipping strike from 25 yards that flew past a helpless Shamal George in the Livingston goal, sending Paradise into raptures.
Any hopes of a Livingston fightback were extinguished deep into stoppage time. Matt O'Riley put the gloss on the victory, driving forward to slot home his second of the game and secure a 3-1 scoreline that barely seemed possible for much of the contest.
Post-Match Reaction and Title Implications
While Brendan Rodgers will be relieved with the character shown by his team, the performance highlighted persistent issues in the final third that will need addressing. For Livingston, it was a brutal lesson in the fine margins of the Premiership, having come within 15 minutes of a historic result.
The hard-fought three points ensure Celtic keep the pressure on their rivals at the top of the table, proving that while they can be stifled, they possess the quality and resilience to grind out crucial victories when it matters most.
