Celtic have one hand on the Scottish Premiership crown after a relentless first-half blitz left Kilmarnock stunned at Celtic Park.
The defending champions stormed into a 4-1 lead before the break, with Reo Hatate netting twice, Daizen Maeda adding another, and Cameron Carter-Vickers producing the kind of goal that will echo through the season.
Carter-Vickers, more often the anchor in defence than the headline act, sent the stadium into disbelief. Collecting the ball 35 yards out, he unleashed a thunderous strike that rocketed into the top corner.
For a second, silence fell across the stands before pure chaos erupted. Adam Idah froze in shock, hands on his head, while Alistair Johnston’s wild-eyed sprint to embrace his teammate captured the moment perfectly. Nobody had imagined such a strike—not even Carter-Vickers himself.
Hatate had set the tone with a brilliant opener before calmly slotting in his second, showing once again why he is one of Rodgers’ most influential players.
Maeda’s sharp finish from close range piled on further misery for the visitors, who simply couldn’t live with Celtic’s tempo.
The result pushes Rodgers’ men to the brink of another league triumph. With Rangers facing Aberdeen tomorrow, the title could be mathematically sealed if their rivals falter. But even if not, just one more win will crown Celtic once again.
A night of ruthless efficiency, spectacular goals, and one unforgettable strike may well be remembered as the evening the championship was decided.