Hearts and Celtic have set up a dramatic final day showdown after Martin O’Neill’s side scored a late penalty to salvage a huge three points.
Hearts got their job done with a solid display over Falkirk, thanks to goals from Frankie Kent, Cammy Delvin and Blair Spittal, winning 3-0.
Celtic had to come from behind after Elliot Watt opened up the scoring for Motherwell, before Daizen Maeda and Benjamin Nygren answered back, only for Liam Gordon to level the contest.
After a lengthy VAR check, Kelechi Iheanacho stepped up to slot home from the spot, as Celtic fans spilt onto the pitch as scenes of jubilation unfolded.
Hearts and Celtic have set up a dramatic final day
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Celtic fans spilt onto the pitch in celebration following their comeback win
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With Celtic’s 3-2 win over Motherwell, the title chasers will face each other on Saturday in a straight shoot-out for the Scottish Premiership title.
Celtic have to win on Sunday, with a draw not good enough due to Hearts having a superior goal difference.
The evening started with Hearts thinking they were 1-0 down after just three minutes, when Calvin Miller got in behind and slotted the ball into the back of the net, only for the goal to be ruled offside in the build-up.
The home side were dominating possession early on, looking to try break down the difficult 4-2-3-1 shape set up by Falkirk boss, John McGlynn.
Over at Fir Park, Motherwell were putting the pressure on Celtic, which finally led to a goal after a deflected long shot from Watt found its way past Viljani Sinisalo.
Hearts convincingly won 3-0 against Falkirk
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The Hearts fans were celebrating, knowing at minute 19 that a win would secure them the Scottish Premiership title.
The home side were putting the pressure on Falkirk, creating numerous opportunities but nothing clear cut, with Lawrence Shankland going closest, but his shot was easily saved by Nicky Hogarth.
That pressure finally paid off with Kent rising from a corner to head home and put Hearts in the lead.
A powerful, thumping header and not a bad way to get your first goal in the league this season.
One soon turned to two, as Delvin pounced on a ricochet to convert past Hogarth, as tears of joy started to flow from those in the Hearts faithful.
The league leaders will travel to Celtic Park on Saturday
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Back in Motherwell, the Celtic away end remained muted, with their side not getting out of second gear for the opening half an hour as O’Neill tried to get a tune out of his players and find a response.
They did find their tune, as Maeda, fresh off his couple of goals against Rangers over the weekend, finished superbly past Calum Ward, to halt the Hearts’ celebrations.
Into the second half, and it was Motherwell who nearly struck first across both contests, but Elijah Just was denied by Celtic skipper Calum McGregor with a fantastic block.
Motherwell had a strong penalty appeal 10 minutes into the second 45, after Callum Slattery appeared to have been brought down, but referee John Beaton deemed otherwise.
With the pressure against Celtic, they needed a moment of magic and found it through Nygren.
Martin O’Neill’s side came from behind to beat Motherwell
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The Swede saw the ball set back to him on the edge of the penalty area and hit a stunning knuckleball past a helpless Ward, sending the away end ballistic.
Celtic survived a real scare with 10 minutes of normal time to go, after a long-range deflected strike rattled the crossbar, only for Tawanda Maswanhise to divert the rebound into the hands of Sinisalo.
The relentless pressure eventually turned into a Motherwell goal after a series of strikes eventually fell to the feet of Gordon, who finished from close range to make it 2-2.
Over at Tynecastle Park, it was game, set, match Hearts thanks to a brilliant curling finish by Spittal, with all the attention firmly on whether Motherwell could produce a huge upset.
The drama was not over though between Motherwell and Celtic, as former Hearts midfielder Sam Nicholson was penalised for handball after jumping to head the ball away.
Ihenacho stepped up to score the winner in the 99th minute as the Celtic faithful poured onto the pitch.
The 3-2 win sets up a simple final day conclusion – a Celtic win means they secure the title, anything else and it is in the hands of Hearts for the first time in 66 years, ending a four-decade run of Celtic or Rangers winning the Scottish Premiership title.
A classic is in store, with the biggest game in Scottish football in recent memory scheduled for Saturday, May 16 at 12:30pm.
