USMNT defender Auston Trusty, Celtic win Scottish Premiership title as fans storm pitch after final-day victory

In a season in which Hearts had occupied the top spot since September, the final-day script was rewritten at a raucous Celtic Park. Hearts arrived needing only a draw to secure their first league title in 66 years, but they were ultimately undone by a relentless Celtic side that refused to surrender its dominance over Scottish football.

The match swung on the finest of margins, with Daizen Maeda firing the hosts into a 2-1 lead with just three minutes of regulation time remaining. The goal was subject to a tense VAR review for a potential offside, but once the decision was confirmed, the momentum shifted entirely in favor of the Hoops. It marked a historic achievement for 74-year-old manager Martin O'Neill, who claimed his fourth title with the club 22 years after his last league success.

It was a big day for American defender Auston Trusty, too, as he recorded the most touches of any player during his 73 minutes on the field. The win gives Trusty his third trophy since joining Celtic ahead of the 2024-25 season, during which Celtic completed the double. Fellow American Cameron Carter-Vickers was also a key player for Celtic early in the season before suffering an Achilles injury in October that ruled him out for the remainder of the campaign.

As Hearts pushed forward in a desperate search for an equalizer in stoppage time, they left their goal completely exposed. Callum Osmand took full advantage, breaking away to slot the ball into an empty net eight minutes into added time to make it 3-1. The goal triggered a massive pitch invasion from the jubilant home support, which swarmed the field before the final whistle could even sound.

The scenes of celebration were described as "bedlam" by broadcasters, though they also drew criticism from some quarters. Former Scotland international James McFadden, speaking on Sky Sports, noted the intensity of the moment but warned of the risks involved.

"You've got a right to celebrate, but you can’t cross the line," he said.

Despite the controversy, the result confirmed Celtic's 14th title win in the last 15 seasons.

Following the trophy presentation, Celtic captain Callum McGregor struggled to find the words to describe the turnaround. The veteran midfielder has been the heartbeat of the side during a campaign in which many experts tipped Hearts to go all the way. McGregor has now captained the club to one of their 56 league titles during a storied history, many of which have come during this current era of dominance.

McGregor told Sky Sports: "For the first time ever, I’m speechless. You see what it means to everyone. What a season. Everyone wrote us off. We knew we’d get a chance. We keep going and going. What a special group of people. Magical."

He later shared a message with supporters, saying: "This is a special football club. It’s been such a hard season. You make sure you have fun tonight!"

For Hearts, the defeat marks a cruel end to a season they dominated for 250 days. Lawrence Shankland gave the visitors hope with an early goal, but an Arne Engels penalty before halftime restored parity. Opta statistics highlighted the disparity in the title race, noting that Hearts had spent 226 days at the top since October, while Celtic had spent only one: the final day that mattered most.

Defender Alistair Johnston was full of praise for his manager's influence on the squad's resilience.

"It’s the greatest league win. It must be an all-time great. Never count us out. We just felt like we were going to find a way," Johnston told Sky Sports.

Regarding O'Neill, he added: "He is a winner. Build him a statue. It’s as simple as that. He just finds a way to win."