Celtic's Dramatic Comeback Victory Keeps Title Hopes Alive

Celtic's Dramatic Comeback Victory Keeps Title Hopes Alive

By Sports Desk | February 17, 2026

Glasgow, Scotland – Celtic produced a stunning second-half turnaround to secure a vital 3-2 victory over Kilmarnock at Rugby Park, keeping their Scottish Premiership title challenge firmly on track. Trailing 2-0 at half-time, the Hoops showcased remarkable resilience and character to complete a memorable comeback in what was manager Martin O'Neill's 300th match in charge.

The match appeared to be slipping away from Celtic as Kilmarnock took a commanding lead before the interval. However, the introduction of fresh legs and a renewed sense of belief sparked a revival. Sebastian Tounekti pulled one back early in the second period, before Benjamin Nygren equalised with a composed finish to level the scores at 2-2.

The dramatic winner arrived in the 97th minute when Julian Araujo, the January loan signing from Bournemouth, smashed home a superb strike to send the travelling supporters into raptures. The late goal capped a remarkable display of never-say-die spirit from the visitors.

O'Neill hailed his players' performance after the match. "The players were magnificent in battling back to beat Kilmarnock," he said. "To come from two goals down shows the character in this group. Julian's winner was special, and it was a fantastic moment for everyone connected with the club."

Araujo, who has made an immediate impact since his arrival, spoke about the team's self-belief. "We never gave up. That's the Celtic way – we fight until the end. Scoring that winner in stoppage time was incredible, and it means a lot to contribute to such an important victory."

The result lifts Celtic to 54 points from 26 games, placing them third in the table, just one point behind second-placed Rangers and three adrift of leaders Hearts, albeit with games in hand. The win maintains momentum following their earlier 2-0 success over Falkirk and comes ahead of crucial upcoming fixtures.

Celtic now turn their attention to European action, with a UEFA Europa League tie against VfB Stuttgart on the horizon. The first leg takes place this week, followed by the return fixture shortly after. Domestically, a home match against Hibernian looms on Sunday, offering another opportunity to close the gap at the top.

Off the field, attention has turned to player futures. Out-of-favour winger Luis Palma, currently on loan at Lech Poznan, expressed his desire to make the move permanent. "I hope to stay at Lech for a long time," Palma stated, though any deal would require agreement between the clubs, with Lech holding an option to buy for around £4 million.

Meanwhile, the January loan additions continue to integrate successfully. Araujo's heroics add to positive contributions from the likes of Junior Adamu, Benjamin Arthur, Joel Mvuka, and Tomas Cvancara, who have helped bolster the squad during a competitive campaign.

As the season enters its decisive phase, Celtic's fighting spirit will be key. With the title race heating up and European progress on the line, supporters will be hoping for more moments of magic from their side. The never-say-die attitude displayed at Rugby Park suggests this team still has plenty to offer in the pursuit of silverware.

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Home of Celtic FC

Opened 1892

Capacity 60,411

History (from Wikipedia)

Celtic Park was an oval stadium, but has been converted to a rectangular stadium. It is intended to create an enclosed and intimidating atmosphere for big games.[11][38] The ground is split into four geographic sections, officially known as the North, Jock Stein (West), Lisbon Lions (East) and Main (South) Stands. The North, East and West stands form a continuous two tier loop.[23] The two end stands each have a capacity of 13,000, while the North Stand holds 27,000. The Main Stand holds just under 8,000, giving a total capacity of 60,411.[2] It received 60% of the votes when BBC Radio Five Live conducted a poll in 2002 to find the favourite sports venue in the United Kingdom.[38]

The North Stand is squeezed into a tight space between the pitch and the Eastern Necropolis cemetery.[11] Part of the upper tier is cantilevered over the graveyard.[11] To save at least £1 million of additional steelwork, fourteen internal pillars were installed to support the roof.[11] Some local residents objected to the North Stand because of the shadow cast over the cemetery, which Celtic believed was necessary to complete the overall project.[39] The proposals were passed because the local officials felt that Celtic had come up with the best solution possible to the problem.[39] Celtic paid £10,000 to compensate residents who had been promised open space "from the centre of the earth to the sky".[11] The structure also had to take account of the need to maintain access into the North Stand along Janefield Street, which has been closed to the public since the redevelopment.[39] Between the two tiers there are 18 executive boxes and a restaurant.[11] There are 1600 seats in the lower section of the North Stand which have a heated element, operated by a foot switch.[11]

The Main (South) Stand is now the oldest part of the stadium, having first been built in 1929,[1] although a new roof was installed in 1971[1] and the facade was rebuilt in 1988.[25] Translucent sheets were added to the Main Stand roof in 1998, to allow more sunlight to reach the pitch.[23] Suspended from the roof girder of the Main Stand is a glass-fronted box, which used to house the press box, but was converted into two executive boxes in 1988.[11] Alongside the main horizontal truss are two retractable columns.[11] These can swing down to a fixing point on the rear wall of the former paddock, which provides additional stability in case of high winds or heavy snow.[1][11]

The East Stand opened in 1996; it was renamed in 2000 after the Lisbon Lions, the Celtic team that won the 1967 European Cup Final.[40] The renaming ceremony was a few days after a Scottish Cup tie had to be postponed after strong winds had damaged guttering in the stand.[40] Away team fans are housed in the Lisbon Lions Stand, in the south east corner of the ground.[23] Some of the away section has its view restricted[23] by one of the supporting pillars of the Main Stand. Celtic offer a discounted price on these seats.[23][41]

Writing in 1996, Simon Inglis noted that the approaches to the Main Stand were an area of urban deprivation "reminiscent of Belfast during the Troubles".[11] Redevelopment work was carried out in the land surrounding the stadium ahead of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, in a scheme dubbed the Celtic Triangle,[42] in addition to extensive rebuilding of housing in the nearby Barrowfield,[43] Dalmarnock[44] and Parkhead residential districts and the construction of the Commonwealth Arena and Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome directly opposite the stadium.[45] Since 2005, statues of Brother Walfrid,[24] Jimmy Johnstone,[46] Jock Stein[47] and Billy McNeill[48] have been erected outside the Main Stand.

In summer 2015, the exterior of the stadium was adorned with a display of printed banners which will remain permanently.[49] Fifteen green-coloured sections at either end of the stadium – each 21 metres high – form a display which reads 'Paradise' and depicts images of noted players from throughout the club's history (58 players in total, with a different set shown on each stand). Photographic banners of significant events and trophy wins are displayed on further panels at the corners between the main stand and the end stands. The project was controlled by the Frame agency with design input from Coatbridge-based artist Jim Scullion.[50][49]

In February 2017, Celtic published plans for a hotel and museum development in an area of land between the Main Stand and London Road.[51] The plans were approved in September 2017.[52]

Celtic have considered the possibility of increasing the capacity of Celtic Park by redeveloping the Main Stand.[53] A completed two-tier bowl stadium would give Celtic Park a capacity of nearly 75,000.[11] Celtic chief executive Peter Lawwell stated in April 2007 that another 8,000 could be added to the capacity, but the work was not considered cost-effective.[53]

In September 2011, Celtic started a feasibility study into creating a safe standing section in Celtic Park.[54] Although there is a law in England preventing top-flight clubs from having standing sections, no such law exists in Scotland.[54] In June 2015, Celtic received safety approval for a proposal to install rail seating.[55][56][57][58] A section of 2,975 rail seats was installed in the Lisbon Lions Stand during the 2016 close season.[59][60][61]

Things to do nearby.