The Tynecastle side Move 8 Points Clear Ahead at the Pinnacle After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such milestones. The encounter underlined is that Hearts have a genuine strong chance of ending Scottish football's four decade-long title duopoly. That advantage stands at eight points for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Key Moments in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes made the difference, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the rest of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the stationary Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down Cláudio Braga for a spot-kick that the captain tucked away. Rodgers looked dejected; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Supporters began celebrating after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to haste when trying to deal with a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, leader McGregor, scoring a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the ground. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Detailed coverage coming soon.