The Tynecastle side Move Eight Points Clear Ahead at the Summit Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off The Hoops
We did not witness at their home ground, with it being far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine strong chance of ending Scottish football's four decade-long stranglehold. Make that an eight-point lead for the team over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the Latter Period
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. It was remarkable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how untroubled the remainder of the game was for the home side. Kyziridis doubled the lead, drifting inside before firing a powerful effort past the static the Celtic keeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down the Hearts player for a penalty that the captain tucked away. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; his problems are mounting.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic bounced back from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who struggled throughout, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to clear a ball into the box. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney pass for level terms.
Stubborn Defence
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Detailed coverage to follow.
