The Tynecastle side Move 8 Points Ahead Ahead at Top Following Shankland's Spot-Kick Sees Off Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts possess a real strong chance of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Turning Point in the After the Break
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, once the initial exchanges that was evenly matched. What was so notable after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Alexandros Kyziridis netted the second goal, cutting in from the left before firing a powerful effort past the static the goalkeeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Dane Murray fouling Cláudio Braga for a foul that the captain slotted home. Rodgers appeared frustrated; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
Celtic had actually recovered well from the hosts' quick opening. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to confusion when trying to deal with a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, turning home a Tierney pull-back for level terms.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which touched Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. One cannot overlook the noise.
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