The Tynecastle side Push 8 Points Clear Clear at Top Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes Celtic
We did not witness at their home ground, since it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that the Edinburgh club possess a real strong chance of ending Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. Make that an eight-point lead for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the Latter Period
A crucial three-minute spell made the difference, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how comfortable the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. The Greek winger netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before blasting a strike past the motionless the Celtic keeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, the Celtic defender upending the Hearts player for a foul that Lawrence Shankland tucked away. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic bounced back from the hosts' quick opening. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to deal with a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, scoring a Tierney pass for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
- Complete analysis coming soon.
