The Jambos Push 8 Points Ahead at the Summit Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Defeats Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine serious opportunity of disrupting Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. They now lead by eight points for the maroon side over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes were key, after an opening period that was evenly matched. It was remarkable after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down Braga for a penalty that Shankland converted. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; his problems are mounting.
Supporters began celebrating after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
The away side responded positively from an early setback. Dane Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to clear a ball into the box. Celtic edged their way back into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pull-back for the equaliser.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, parried an Arne Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the game concluded. “We shall not be moved” has become the favoured chant at the ground. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Detailed coverage coming soon.
