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Listen to Sportsound Celtic now two points from title – and can be crowned champions on Sunday if Rangers lose to Aberdeen Hatate (2), Maeda & Carter-Vickers put rampant Celtic four up in opening 25 minutes Armstrong pulls one back with looping effort & Maeda has first-half strike disallowed for offside Substitute Ralston nets injury-time fifth for hosts Manager Brendan Rodgers hailed Celtic's "brilliant reaction" to their shock defeat at St Johnstone as they moved to within touching distance of another Scottish Premiership title by ripping Kilmarnock apart with a barnstorming first-half display. Rodgers demanded a response following the loss to the division's bottom side, and within 24 minutes his side were four ahead thanks to a stunning array of goals, with Daizen Maeda, Cameron Carter-Vickers and Reo Hatate, twice, on target. Danny Armstrong's cross sailed home for some brief respite for Derek McInnes' men, but the champions-elect utterly dominated. The icing on the cake arrived in injury time as substitute Anthony Ralston danced into the box and found the far corner. Celtic's title win will be confirmed if Aberdeen defeat Rangers on Sunday, while well-beaten Kilmarnock now head into a crucial bottom-six run that will determine their fate. "As frustrated as I was last week, that was a brilliant reaction," Rodgers told BBC Scotland. "The first 30 minutes were as good as we've been. "That's more like what we've been for large parts of the season. Winning attitude mixed with talent, you get that performance." Rodgers had questioned the mindset of his squad after defeat last Sunday meant there was no home title party this weekend. With four changes for the home side, two up top and two at the back, the intent and desire was there instantly. Celtic were magnificent and swatted Kilmarnock away with some excellent goals. The first was an individual moment of brilliance as Hatate gathered off a one-two and, without hesitation, fired straight into the top corner with Kieran O'Hara given no hope in goal. Things quickly imploded for the visitors. Arne Engels waited and waited before playing a delightful ball in behind for Alistair Johnston, who squared for Maeda to tap in the easiest of his now 31 goals this season. Celtic's attacking was relentless and Carter-Vickers got in on the act as he strode freely towards the box and smashed a perfect long-range strike into the top corner. The fourth was wonderfully worked with James Forrest again releasing Johnston, who found Hatate with space and time to net his second of the game and 10th of the season. At that stage, Kilmarnock looked in freefall. From nowhere, Armstrong crossed with pace and it soared to the far post and over Viljami Sinisalo into the top corner. Fortunate but gratefully received. Celtic kept at it. Kilmarnock avoided further damage just before half-time when Maeda slammed home but Adam Idah was adjudged just offside. The only solace for the visitors was it didn't get much worse as they changed approach at the break to some effect. The damage was done. Engels was closest to a fifth with a curling effort that clipped the bar before Ralston's late strike as Celtic inflicted a painful, chastening afternoon on their opponents. No title party, just yet, and that clearly irked Rodgers given his comments in the past week. Clearly, his anger had the desired impact on his squad. Jota, Nicolas Kuhn, Auston Trusty and Jeffrey Schlupp all made way and Celtic were on it from minute one. It was a brilliant response as Kilmarnock were battered into submission within the opening quarter of the match. At half-time this really could have been a cricket score. Celtic eased off and a change in approach from Kilmarnock stemmed the flow but this was a convincing and deserved victory. Another Premiership title will arrive, whether on Sunday or later. However, clearly Celtic's manager is already thinking beyond the remainder of this season. He told BBC Scotland pre-match he will "150%" remain Celtic manager next season and his position on the next steps seems crystal clear. This squad needs improved despite yet more success being within their grasp. The fight really begins for Kilmarnock and every side in the bottom six now in the five post-split fixtures. The Rugby Park side have not won away to Celtic since 2012 and ending that run was always unlikely. Within 10 minutes it was a crisis management exercise in damage limitation. Kilmarnock barely had the ball, couldn't get away from their box and very rarely got over halfway. It was the sort of afternoon no footballer wants to experience, never mind fans. Goal difference may prove crucial - second-bottom Dundee are just a point behind before facing Hibernian on Sunday - and the second half game-management may prove helpful. You look at this Kilmarnock squad and think they should have enough to avoid trouble, but they are right in it as things stand. This was an afternoon they'll want to forget, regroup and get on with the job in hand. Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers: "I feel much much happier than I was last week. You see the response over a week's work and today. "It puts us in a perfect place going into the Scottish Cup semi-final [next week]. If we put in a performance like that, hopefully we can get to the final." Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes: "Celtic started like a train and put us to the sword with their movement. When they are like that you think, 'how can they lose games in the Premiership?' "We've got to bounce back into work. Every bottom-six team is in a fight, we've got to make sure we win those fights. Today wasn't a fight we needed to win."

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Futbol

Glasgow Go Top After Hibs Lose And Celtic Hold Rangers

Glasgow City moved to the top of the Scottish Women's Premier League after Hibernian lost to Heart of Midlothian, while Rangers and Celtic fought out a 1-1 draw in Sunday's other big derby. Hibs started the day two points clear at the summit, but a 2-1 home defeat in Edinburgh gave City the chance to go top - and they took the opportunity with a convincing 4-0 win over Motherwell. Rangers would have ended the afternoon on top with a victory in the final game of the day, but Kirsty Gallagher's second-half equaliser leaves them a point behind while reigning champions Celtic are fourth, only ahead of Hearts now on goal difference. Rangers swept into the lead after just 10 minutes at Broadwood, with forward Kirsty Howat firing into top corner against their Glasgow rivals. Scotland striker Amy Gallacher fired the equaliser after the break moments after coming on as a substitute to rescue a point, but it now leaves Celtic eight points adrift of the leaders. Hibs also made a swift start at Meadowbank as Kathleen McGovern's clever backheel put the hosts ahead after 12 minutes. However, Lisa Robertson smashed in the equaliser after the break and, after McGovern's header hit the crossbar, Emma Brownlie fired what turned out to be the visitors' winner after a fine run. It took half an hour for Glasgow to break the headlock at home to sixth-top Motherwell through a Brenna Lovera header, but the striker smashed home another to quickly doubled the lead then almost immediately set up Katie Lockwood to fire the third. Lockwood slotted her second after the break to put the 16-time champions in pole position with seven games remaining. At the other end of the table, Dundee United, who have taken only four points all season, had their relegation confirmed after a thrilling 4-3 defeat by Partick Thistle that lifts the visitors to the top of the bottom six on goal difference above Aberdeen, who lost 4-2 at home to Spartans. Eva Thomson fired Aberdeen ahead, but Zara Andrews equalised after missing a penalty and Olivia Chomczuk put the visitors ahead before the break. Kerry Beattie equalised for the Dons, but Mya Bates restored the lead shortly after and Erin Rennie secured the points that lift Spartans to within a point of their hosts and ease their relegation worries. Freya Brien gave United the lead against Thistle after only 30 seconds, but goals from Tiree Burchill levelled, before Carla Boyce, Demi Falconer and Cara Henderson put the Glasgow visitors in control by half-time. Kaela McDonald-Nguah and Brien reduced the deficit after the break, but United could not find an equaliser. Meanwhile, Montrose have fallen eight points behind Spartans after a 0-0 draw away to second-bottom Queen's Park.

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Futbol

The Smallest Pitch Invader - Mouse Stops MLS Game

Vancouver Whitecaps striker Brian White scored four goals in a 5-1 victory over rivals Austin in the MLS on Saturday... only to be upstaged by the world's smallest pitch invader. A surprise appearance by a mouse stole the spotlight at BC Place in Vancouver, with play stopped while players and staff attempted to catch it. It scurried across the halfway line in the seventh minute as Austin prepared to take a corner, prompting the referee to pause the action. Austin goalkeeper Brad Stuver eventually assumed the role of part-time pest control, using his gloves to scoop up the miniature intruder before gently escorting it off the field. Stuver received a warm round of applause from supporters, but spent much of the rest of the game picking the ball out of his own net as the Whitecaps tightened their grip at the top of the Western Conference. They are four points clear of Minnesota United and are through to the Concacaf Champions Cup semi-finals, where they take on Lionel Messi's Inter Miami on April 30.

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Futbol

Chelsea Show 'ruthless' Mentality As Quadruple Bid Still On

It was another game, another win for Chelsea as their quadruple hopes stayed intact. But it was also a familiar story for Sonia Bompastor’s side as they had to come from behind to beat Liverpool and reach the FA Cup final. It was the eighth game since January in which the Blues had to produce a comeback or find a late winner to keep their campaign on track. Academy product Aggie Beever-Jones scored a 94th-minute header as Chelsea narrowly avoided extra time in their latest rollercoaster victory. "Ruthless is the only way to describe this Chelsea team," former Chelsea midfielder Fara Williams told BBC Sport. "They have a crazy winning mentality. "They didn't win pretty today - it looked ugly at times." Despite Chelsea being far from their free-flowing, brilliant best and being pushed all the way by Liverpool, the outcome never really felt in doubt. There is a growing belief both in the Chelsea group and in the wider media that they always have what it takes to win. "We said collectively a goal was going to come - and it did," ex-Chelsea defender Anita Asante added. Boss Bompastor challenged her players to show the "best version" of themselves as they returned from an international break having dropped points in a 2-2 draw with West Ham in their previous game. The stats from Saturday’s victory were heavily in the Blues' favour, with 60% possession and 24 shots. However, only four of those were on target, despite an astonishing 54 touches in Liverpool’s penalty area. While Bompastor did not get the version of her players that she hoped for, she said she could not have asked any more of them. "They fought really hard and gave everything they had in the legs," the Frenchwoman said. "Sometimes we could have played a little bit better, but they brought all the energy on the pitch and that is what I expect. "Sometimes as players you try so hard that you make mistakes and that's fine - they are human. "I will always support them when they make mistakes because I know they have the right mentality." Beever-Jones had an international break to remember as she scored her first England goal in the Nations League over Belgium. The 21-year-old is Chelsea's top scorer this season with 11 goals in all competitions and was the Blues' bright spark - particularly in the second half - in the bid to return to Wembley. Beever-Jones had the best of the Blues' second-half chances and her frustration was clearly growing with each missed opportunity, but her persistence paid off and she peeled off in ecstasy as she celebrated what proved to be the winning goal. "It's been a whirlwind," Beever-Jones told BBC Sport. "I'm in shock a little bit still. "It's the Chelsea mentality - never giving up - and I'm delighted I got on the scoresheet and helped my team." With Sam Kerr and Lauren James sidelined, it was apt that the academy product stepped up to send her side to Wembley, where Beever-Jones has never played. "The last week has been really good for her," Bompastor said. "Aggie is a really young, talented player. She makes a big impact for the team creating opportunities but also scoring goals. "This goal will bring more confidence to her and the team. Aggie has the right mindset." With the score 1-1, Liverpool captain Taylor Hinds hit the woodwork in the 90th minute as Chelsea's quadruple dreams almost slipped through their fingertips again. The Reds provided a tough test but ultimately caved to Chelsea's pressure as their winning mentality shone through. Blues midfielder Erin Cuthbert told BBC Sport that reaching Wembley is "where the club want to be" as they look to add to their silverware this season. Having won the League Cup, Chelsea sit six points clear at the top of the Women's Super League and have a Champions League semi-final against holders Barcelona coming up. While Barca will punish Chelsea in ways Liverpool perhaps could not, Bompastor said her side are at the stage of the season where results are more important than performances and they head to Catalonia full of confidence. "In this part of the season, that's the most important and decisive moment in the season. You need to win the games, no matter the performance," Bompastor said. "Sometimes when you don't perform the way you want to, but you win the game -that's the most important. "We are going to play the biggest team in Europe. The best way to prepare is to win for the confidence." Head here to get involved