Kelechi Iheanacho emerged as the hero for Celtic, scoring a crucial brace in extra time to secure a dramatic 6-2 victory over St. Mirren and propel the Bhoys into the Scottish Cup final. The Nigerian international, who came off the bench in the 83rd minute, proved to be the catalyst for Celtic's dominant performance in the additional period, ensuring their place in the showpiece event for the fourth consecutive season.

Celtic had initially built a comfortable two-goal lead in regulation time, with Daizen Maeda scoring within seconds of kick-off and Anthony Ralston doubling the advantage before halftime. However, St. Mirren mounted a spirited comeback, with Mikaël Mandron netting twice to force the semi-final into extra time.

It was in extra time that Iheanacho truly shone. He broke the deadlock in the 96th minute with a towering header from a cross and then sealed the victory with a superb curling effort from inside the box in the 101st minute. His two goals contributed to a flurry of four goals from Celtic in the opening stages of extra time, overwhelming St. Mirren and confirming Celtic's passage to the final.

This decisive performance takes Iheanacho's tally to six goals in 18 appearances for Celtic since his arrival from Sevilla last September. He expressed his gratitude for the fans' support and urged them to continue backing the team as they aim for their 43rd Scottish Cup trophy. The final is scheduled to take place on May 23rd at Hampden Park, where Celtic will face Dunfermline Athletic.