Hearts Push Eight Points Ahead Ahead at the Summit After Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Sees Off The Hoops
History wasn't made at Tynecastle, with it being far too early for such milestones. This game highlighted is that the Edinburgh club have a genuine credible shot of ending Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. That advantage stands at eight points for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Latter Period
A crucial three-minute spell proved decisive, after an opening period that was contested closely. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how untroubled the rest of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis doubled the lead, moving infield before blasting a strike past the stationary Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray upending Cláudio Braga for a spot-kick that the captain converted. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. Dane Murray, who had a difficult day, scored an own goal due to confusion when trying to remove a Shankland cross. The Hoops worked their way into the game, leader Callum McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Stubborn Defence
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the minutes passed. “We remain resolute” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. It's hard to ignore the buzz.
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