Kelechi Iheanacho made his mark when Celtic needed it most at Hampden, coming off the bench to help turn a tense semi-final into a comfortable win in extra time. The forward stepped into a game that had slipped away from Celtic and gave them a presence in the box that had been missing.
Celtic had been in control early on. Two goals up at the break, they looked set for a routine afternoon. That changed after the interval. St Mirren pushed higher, delivered early crosses, and forced Celtic into defending deeper than they wanted.
When the equaliser came late on, the game had a different feel. Celtic were stretched, the midfield wasn’t holding shape, and the back line looked unsure when balls came in from wide areas. It needed something direct.
That is where Iheanacho came in. He stayed central, attacked crosses, and gave St Mirren something to think about. His movement for the header in extra time was simple but effective. He then showed composure for his second, picking his spot without rushing the finish.
He said: (Premier Sports), “It feels amazing. I can’t even express how I feel now. Obviously, it was 2-2 at the end of the game and we went to extra time and we blew them away. So it feels really good to be in the final.
“I’m really happy as well as the team.
“To be fair, for me, I’d describe him as a machine because he never gets tired. He keeps running, keeps running, keeps giving the defenders problems.
“So he’s a very important player for us this season and hopefully he’ll be fit to finish the season with us and give us more.
“I don’t know how it feels for the fans, but for me, it would mean a whole lot for me because it’s been a while I haven’t won a silverware. So I’ll be so delighted to win a silverware this season. So hopefully, together as a team, we can achieve that.”
His comments on Daizen Maeda reflect what happened across the game. Maeda’s pressing created the first goal and kept St Mirren unsettled. Iheanacho then built on that by finishing the moves when the game opened up.
Celtic now face Dunfermline in the final. That will be a different type of match. Lennon’s side won’t leave the same space, and chances in the box may be harder to come by.
That puts more focus on players like Iheanacho. If Celtic need a goal in a tight game, they need someone willing to stay high and take those moments.
He showed that here. The timing of his runs, the calm finish, and the willingness to attack the six-yard box all made a difference once the game turned.
Hampden in the final will demand the same.
