Soccer
Kelechi Iheanacho of Celtic in action. Copyright: ImagoxVisionhausx
Super Eagles striker Kelechi Iheanacho has expressed his elation after scoring the winning goal for Celtic against Dundee FC on Sunday, Soccernet.ng reports.
Iheanacho has endured a challenging campaign hampered by recurring injuries, but he made a significant return to action this weekend.
Coming on as a 58th-minute substitute with the game tied, it took the Nigerian international just 24 minutes to find the back of the net and secure a vital victory for the Hoops.
The former Leicester City man expertly met a cross from Marcelo Saracchi, peeling away from his marker before smashing the ball home with venom in the 82nd minute to make it 2-1.
That strike proved to be the decider, marking Iheanacho’s first goal of the calendar year and his first since a 3-2 win over Motherwell on October 5.
The relief on his face was clear at the final whistle. After some topsy-turvy months due to injuries, he finally got the monkey off his back.
Iheanacho was all smiles as he celebrated the hard-fought result with the traveling fans.
Watch Highlights of Dundee FC vs Celtic
Speaking after the match, Kelechi Iheanacho reflected on the difficulty of being sidelined for much of the season and his determination to help the team.
”It feels good to contribute to the team. We’ve been working really hard. Obviously, it’s not been great for the past few weeks, but I think today we showed character, discipline, and the togetherness needed to win the game,” Iheanacho said.
”Oh yes, I’m satisfied. It’s important to help the team get the win. Personally, but collectively as a team, we really worked hard to get this today.
“Yeah, obviously everyone has to improve, and I personally have to keep working hard to help the team get there at the end.”
With this victory, Celtic move up to third in the table, trailing league leaders Hearts by just three points.
As the season enters its final stretch, Iheanacho will be looking to maintain this momentum and lead the Hoops to a strong finish.
Kelvin Omachonu
Kelvin Omachonu is a professional football columnist and sports writer with over half a decade of experience covering major events and delivering captivating, analytically-driven stories.
A graduate of the University of Ibadan, he is fueled by a profound dedication to sports journalism and the beautiful game. His insights have previously been featured in respected outlets, including IndyPress UI, UCJ UI Newshive NG, Sportpremi, and a few others.
Away from work, Kelvin is an avid fan of basketball, enjoys a great movie, and is always discovering new music.
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