Kelechi Iheanacho’s Celtic Breaks Motherwell Hearts 

Motherwell pushed Celtic close but ultimately fell to a slim defeat as Daizen Maeda earned the champions all three points.

Apostolos Stamatelopoulous struck twice to first level Kelechi Iheanacho’s first-half penalty by sweeping in a crisp shot, before putting the Lanarkshire side ahead from the spot, 10 minutes into the second half.

However, that lead lasted only until sub Benjamin Nygren levelled in 69 minutes, and Maeda struck three minutes into stoppage time.

Iheanacho gave Celtic the lead from the spot in 27 minutes for what looked like a harsh handball decision against Regan Charles-Cook.

However that was cancelled out five minutes from the break as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos slid in a Tawanda Maswanhise cross a the right post.

The Australian was off the mark again in 55 minutes, putting Motherwell ahead from the penalty spot.

However, sub Benjamin Nygren levelled for Celtic in 69 minutes, and Maeda bagged the winner late on.

Celtic predictably dominated the first half, but without creating too much for Motherwell goalkeeper Calum Ward to do, and their fans seemed restless.

Motherwell very much gave it a go against the champions and had a few inroads, before they deservedly drew level.

The second half was much more even, but a mazy run by Maswanhise was illegally halted and Motherwell took a sensational lead from the spot.

But Nygren spared the champions’ blushes with a rifled effort.

Celtic boss Brendan Rodgers made four changes from the side that lost 2-0 here against Sporting Braga in the Europa League on Thursday. In came Anthony Ralston, Marcelo Saracchi, Reo Hatate and Luke McCowan for Colby Donovan, Kieran Tierney, Benjamin Nygren and Paulo Bernardo.

Motherwell manager Jens Berthel Askou made two changes to the side that beat Aberdeen 2-0 last weekend. Stephen Welsh sits this one out under the terms of his loan from Celtic, and he was replaced by fit-again captain Paul McGinn, while Johnny Koutroumbis came in for Stephen O’Donnell.