A late winner from Giorgos Giakoumakis saw Celtic wipe out St Johnstone’s own stoppage time equaliser and claim three points in the Scottish Premiership on Saturday afternoon.
Alexander Mitchell’s dramatic stoppage-time strike looked to have given the hosts a point after Andrew Considine’s own goal had given Celtic the advantage.
However, Giakoumakis pounced in the 96th minute, converting Alexandro Bernabei’s stunning cross to make it 2-1 and take the Scottish champions five points clear of second-placed Rangers.
Considine turned Sead Haksabanovic’s cross past home goalkeeper Remi Matthews to give Ange Postecoglou’s side the lead, though the visitors scuppered a number of chances to build on their lead.
Matt O’Riley struck the post with a deflected effort from distance, while Haksabanovic saw a similar long-range effort fizz past the woodwork.
Giakoumakis and Daizen Maeda both hit the back of the net but were ruled offside before a late charge from St Johnstone saw them draw level.
Mitchell controlled Alistair Crawford’s free kick and side-footed it beyond Joe Hart to level things up late on.
Mitchell showed great composure in the box to make it 1-1, but Giakoumakis’ late winner sparked scenes of jubilation on the away end to consolidate their position of first in the Scottish Premiership.
St Johnstone XI (5-3-2): Matthews; Wright, Mitchell, Gordon, Considine, Brown; McGowan, Hallberg, Kucheriavyi; Murphy, Clark.
Substitutes: Crawford (63′ for Kucheriavyi), May (63′ for Murphy), Bair (75′ for Brown), McLennan (75′ for Clark.
Celtic XI (4-2-3-1): Hart; Ralston, Carter-Vickers, Welsh, Bernabei; O’Riley, Hatate; Abada, Haksabanovic, Jota; Giakoumakis.
Substitutes: Maeda (46′ for Jota), Forrest (68′ for Abada), Abilgaard (68′ for O’Riley), Mooy (68′ for Hatate), McCarthy (82′ for Haksabanovic)
Credit: 90min.com
