The Jambos Move Eight Points Ahead Ahead at Top After Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that the Edinburgh club have a genuine serious opportunity of breaking Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. The challenge is now for others.
Key Moments in the Second Half
Three second-half minutes made the difference, following a tight first half that was contested closely. What was so notable after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the remainder of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Kyziridis netted the second goal, drifting inside before blasting a strike past the static the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender upending the Hearts player for a spot-kick that the captain tucked away. The Celtic manager appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
The Visitors' Fightback
The away side responded positively from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who struggled throughout, conceded an own goal due to panic when trying to clear a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, leader McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pull-back for the equaliser.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, parried an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We stand firm” has become the favoured chant at the ground. One cannot overlook the buzz.
- Full report to follow.
