The Tynecastle side Extend 8 Points Ahead at the Summit Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off The Hoops
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that the Edinburgh club possess a real serious opportunity of ending Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. They now lead by eight points for the maroon side over their rivals, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase proved decisive, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. What was so notable after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the rest of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis netted the second goal, moving infield before thumping a right-footed shot past the stationary the Celtic keeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Dane Murray bringing down Cláudio Braga for a spot-kick that the captain converted. Rodgers appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. Murray, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to confusion when trying to remove a ball into the box. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader McGregor, finishing a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, parried an Engels shot which deflected off Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Detailed coverage to follow.
