Celtic's Julian Araujo celebrates with Celtic fansSNS

Julian Araujo's first Celtic goal ignited wild scenes with visiting fans

At a glance

  • Araujo scores Celtic winner in stoppage time after Tounekti and Nygren also score in second half

  • John-Jules and Hugill had given Kilmarnock half-time lead

  • Kilmarnock stay eight points clear of bottom side Livingston

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15/02/26

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Clive Lindsay
BBC Sport Scotland

Celtic came from two goals down to beat Kilmarnock as Julian Araujo's dramatic stoppage-time winner fuelled their defence of the Scottish title in Martin O'Neill's 300th game in charge of the Glasgow club.

Tyreece John-Jules and Joe Hugill had given the hosts a deserved lead at half-time.

But goals from Sebastian Tounekti and Benjamin Nygren after the break levelled for the Glasgow visitors before Araujo gave Celtic an overtime winner for the third game in a row.

Celtic are now unbeaten in 10 games, winning their latest five, as they moved above Rangers into second place while their city rivals were facing leaders Heart of Midlothian at Ibrox.

Despite positive signs under new manager Neil McCann, Kilmarnock remain three points behind third bottom St Mirren.

Perhaps inspired by their 4-3 midweek win over St Mirren, McCann's side took the initiative from kick-off.

At the other end, Daizen Maeda stung the palms of home goalkeeper Kelle Roos with a powerful drive, but Kilmarnock were quickly up the other end to score on the break.

Just when John-Jules appeared to make a mess of his charge into the penalty box, he slipped inside Auston Trusty and curled his drive into the far corner.

Having added to his midweek hat-trick, the big striker turned provider as his chip into the six-yard box was met by Hugill, whose header looped over scrambling goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel.

Kilmarnock survived some late first-half pressure, but the introduction of new signing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Tomas Cvancara and Tounekti at the break turned the game.

Tounekti had already threatened before he cut inside and found the far corner with a trademark finish.

Celtic were back level when Kilmarnock failed to clear a long throw and Nygren stabbed in his 13th league goal of the season.

John-Jules fired a free-kick against the crossbar as both sides chased a winner.

However, it was Celtic who were creating the better chances and their pressure told when a tiring Kilmarnock failed to clear inside their penalty box and on-loan Bournemouth right-back Araujo swept in his first goal for the visitors to ignite wild scenes among the visiting fans.

Analysis: Lively Killie left to lament O'Neill time

You have heard of Fergie Time, a reference to so many late goals scored while Sir Alex Ferguson was Manchester United manager.

Now Celtic fans will be hailing O'Neill Time.

Last weekend, it was Dundee who thought they had caused a Scottish Cup shock before two late goals at Celtic Park. In midweek, it was Livingston being denied a surprise draw at the home of the reigning champions.

This time, it was Kilmarnock who were made to suffer for Celtic's relentlessness under the veteran manager who is in his second spell as caretaker boss this season.

The much-criticised recruitment team must also take some of the plaudits given latest recruit Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was the match winner against Livi while January arrival Araujo did the damage this time.

McCann will be angry at the concession of such a healthy lead, but they are not the first team to suffer in such a way against Celtic - and will not be the last.

The former Rangers winger will lament a missed chance to move closer to St Mirren and add to the eight points between themselves and Livingston, but he will surely see positives in the performance and hope for the rest of the season.

Former Crawley Town 25-year-old John-Jules, in particular, will be crucial if they are to avoid the drop after his fifth goal in four games.

What they said

Kilmarnock manager Neil McCann: "I am not devastated - I am just angry. It is a sore one to take.

"Lost a game when I thought we deserved something out of it.

"There's a lot of disappointment there - so many good things within the match for us. It is an enormous amount of added time - seven minutes. I'm not sure where they got that from."

Celtic manager Martin O'Neill: "The spirit the players has been absolutely fantastic.

"I managed, coached, a really top quality side here 20-odd years ago who had loads of spirit, loads of resilience, loads of ability and these lads here are emulating that in many aspects and sometimes surpassing.

"It was a wonderful second-half performance for us. You can't keep doing that. We've got to put in the full 90 minutes."

What's next?

Kilmarnock visit Dundee United in the Premiership on Saturday (15:00 GMT), while Celtic host Stuttgart in the Europa League knockout phase play-off first leg on Thursday (20:00) before returning to league duty at home to Hibernian three days later (15:00)