Hearts Push 8 Points Clear at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Defeats Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts are at least in with serious opportunity of disrupting Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. They now lead by eight points for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they comfortably swatted aside. The challenge is now for others.
Decisive Period in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase proved decisive, once the initial exchanges that was fiercely fought. The striking aspect after they extended their advantage was how comfortable the closing stages of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis doubled the lead, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender fouling Cláudio Braga for a penalty that the captain tucked away. The Celtic manager looked dejected; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to clear a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Solid Backline
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, parried an Arne Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. One cannot overlook the excitement.
- Detailed coverage to follow.
