The Tynecastle side Push Eight Points Ahead Clear at the Pinnacle After Shankland's Penalty Kick Defeats The Glasgow Giants
We did not witness at Tynecastle Park, with it being far too early for such milestones. This game highlighted is that Hearts have a genuine serious opportunity of breaking Scottish football's 40-year title duopoly. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over the visitors, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Turning Point in the After the Break
Three second-half minutes proved decisive, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. It was remarkable after they extended their advantage was how comfortable the closing stages of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger doubled the lead, drifting inside before blasting a strike past the static the goalkeeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, the Celtic defender upending Braga for a foul that the captain tucked away. Rodgers cut such a disconsolate figure; challenges abound for him.
Supporters began celebrating after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic had actually recovered well from an early setback. Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, the captain McGregor, scoring a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. One cannot overlook the noise.
- Full report coming soon.
