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Naka clinches title for ´The Bhoys´
KILMARNOCK, Scotland (AFP) - Celtic were crowned Scottish Premier League champions after a dramatic injury time free-kick from Shunsuke Nakamura handed them a 2-1 win away to Kilmarnock on Sunday.
It appeared Gordon Strachan's side would have to wait for their title celebrations after Colin Nish cancelled out Dutch international Vennegoor of Hesselink's opener.
But as has been the case so often this season Celtic left it late to tie up the three points they needed to clinch their second consecutive SPL title.
Japanese international Nakamura was the hero of the moment curling another exquisite free-kick into the corner of the net, for his 11th goal of the season, after the regulation 90 minutes had been played.
Strachan was ecstatic at sealing his second title with the club.
"Winning the league this season is even better than first time round as it's taken so long to come.
"I'm absolutely delighted to have won the SPL twice and I love being the Celtic manager.
"We played better this week but after Nish's goal I thought it was going to be another long week.
"I didn't think Naka would score at the free-kick. I just thought 'No, he can't possibly do it again'. He is the best player I have worked with in terms of his sublime technique and it was a fantastic goal."
Kilmarnock manager Jim Jefferies congratulated Celtic but thought his side were unlucky to lose the match.
"Celtic have struggled to cross the finish line in the last few weeks and they struggled today but any side who win the league with four games to spare are worthy champions," he said.
"Nakamura has done that to us four or five times before. We know he has the ability to do that but it's hard to prevent and Alan Combe didn't see it until it was past him.
"I thought it was cruel on us as it was a good performance."
Celtic had opened the scoring in the 23rd minute.
An inswinging corner from Nakamura was met by Vennegoor of Hesselink who nodded the ball past Kilmarnock goalkeeper Alan Combe.
The goal instigated the start of some early championship winning celebrations from the large visiting support, seated behind each goal in the 13,673 crowd, but Killie almost hit back immediately.
James Fowler's deep cross found Leven six-yards from goal but he headed wastefully wide.
However, the home side were not to be denied and in the 49th minute they were level.
Gary Wales drove in from the right towards the byline before cutting the ball back to leave Nish with the straightforward task of ramming the ball low past Celtic's Polish goalkeeper Artur Boruc from eight-yards.
Another huge positive aspect of Sunday's game for Celtic was the performance of John Kennedy.
The defender, making his first appearance in the first team since injuring his knee in a friendly for Scotland in March 2004, displayed the mix of aerial ability, tough tackling and ball control that won him international recognition.
As the game drew to a close it appeared Celtic would have to postpone their title celebrations but once again they scored a dramatic late winner.
Nakamura was fouled by Wales on the edge of the box to win a free-kick and set the scene.
As the little free-kick expert has shown so often in the current campaign he is deadly from these situations and he struck a perfect curling shot into the far corner of the net which left Combe rooted to the spot.
The Celtic support erupted as the players ran to them to celebrate and Strachan sprinted along the touchline to show his delight at completing his second league title as manager of the Parkhead club.
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