The Tynecastle side Push Eight Points Clear in Front at Top After Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at their home ground, as it's far too early for such achievements. This game highlighted is that Heart of Midlothian possess a real strong chance of breaking Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase were key, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how comfortable the rest of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, Dane Murray fouling Cláudio Braga for a penalty that Shankland slotted home. Rodgers appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
Supporters began celebrating after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, scored an own goal due to confusion when trying to deal with a ball into the box. They gradually fought back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pass for 1-1.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The shot-stopper Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the ground. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
- Full report coming soon.
