GLASGOW — On a crisp October afternoon at Celtic Park, the Scottish Premiership served up a contest embodying the drama and unpredictability that has come to define the league’s opening weeks. Celtic, defending champions and perennial favorites, faced a Motherwell side riding a wave of early-season optimism—and for long stretches, it looked as though the visitors might finally break their Parkhead hoodoo. But in the end, a late Celtic surge, capped by a dramatic stoppage-time winner from Daizen Maeda, ensured the hosts took all three points in a pulsating 3-2 victory.

Match Flow and Key Moments

The game burst into life midway through the first half when Celtic were awarded a penalty after a clumsy challenge in the box. Kelechi Iheanacho, the veteran Nigerian striker, stepped up and coolly dispatched the spot-kick to give the hosts the lead in the 28th minute. However, Motherwell responded before the interval, as Apostolos Stamatelopoulos capitalized on a slick assist from Tawanda Maswanhise to slot home an equalizer in the 40th minute—a goal that exemplified the visitors’ growing confidence and attacking intent.

If the first half hinted at an upset, the second half threatened to deliver one. Just 11 minutes after the restart, Stamatelopoulos was again the hero for Motherwell, converting another penalty to put the Steelmen ahead and stun the Celtic Park faithful. The Greek-Australian forward’s brace marked him as the standout performer for the visitors, his physicality and composure causing constant problems for the Celtic backline.

But Celtic, with their title aspirations on the line, refused to wilt. Brendan Rodgers made a flurry of substitutions, introducing the creativity of Reo Hatate and the pace of Mikey Balikwisha, and the changes paid dividends. In the 69th minute, Benjamin Nygren—whose movement and link-up play had been a constant threat—found space at the edge of the box and curled a precise effort beyond the Motherwell goalkeeper to level the scores.

Late Drama and Title Implications

As the clock ticked into added time, with both sides pressing for a winner, it was Celtic who struck the decisive blow. In the 92nd minute, Balikwisha, a second-half substitute, danced past his marker and squared for Maeda, who finished with the calmness of a man who has made a habit of crucial goals in green and white. The Parkhead crowd erupted, and despite a late yellow card for Maeda in the 98th minute—his second booking of the match—Celtic held on for a vital, if nervy, victory.

For Motherwell, the result was cruel but not without positives. Their unbeaten start to the season may have ended, but Stamatelopoulos’s performance and the team’s resilience on the road will give manager Stuart Kettlewell hope for the challenges ahead. Celtic, meanwhile, remain unbeaten and stay within touching distance of league leaders Hearts, but questions linger about their defensive solidity and reliance on individual moments of brilliance.

Player Performances

Apostolos Stamatelopoulos was the standout for Motherwell, his two goals underlining his importance to the side. Tawanda Maswanhise also impressed with his direct running and creativity, providing the assist for the first Motherwell goal. For Celtic, Benjamin Nygren and Daizen Maeda were the match-winners, but the introduction of Reo Hatate and Mikey Balikwisha from the bench proved crucial in shifting the momentum.

Broader Context

With the Premiership table tightly packed at this early stage, every point could prove decisive come May. Celtic’s ability to grind out results, even when not at their fluent best, keeps them in the title conversation. For Motherwell, the performance—if not the result—suggests they could be a surprise package this season.

As the highlights reels from trusted sports channels will show, this was a match that had everything: penalties, comebacks, tactical changes, and a last-gasp winner. For neutral observers and dedicated fans alike, it was a reminder of why the Scottish Premiership remains one of Europe’s most compelling competitions.