Hearts Extend Eight Points in Front at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Overcomes Celtic
History wasn't made at their home ground, as it's far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Key Moments in the Latter Period
Three second-half minutes were key, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the rest of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis netted the second goal, moving infield before blasting a strike past the motionless the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray fouling Braga for a spot-kick that Lawrence Shankland converted. The Celtic manager cut such a disconsolate figure; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from an early setback. Dane Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to remove a Shankland cross. They gradually fought back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pull-back for the equaliser.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the excitement.
- Detailed coverage coming soon.
