Hearts Move 8 Points Ahead in Front at the Pinnacle Following Shankland's Spot-Kick Overcomes Celtic
We did not witness at their home ground, as it's far too early for such milestones. This game highlighted is that Heart of Midlothian have a genuine credible shot of ending Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. They now lead by eight points for Hearts over their rivals, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Key Moments in the Second Half
Three second-half minutes were key, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis netted the second goal, moving infield before blasting a strike past the static the Celtic keeper. Soon there was further euphoria in the stands, Murray bringing down Braga for a penalty that Shankland tucked away. Brendan Rodgers looked dejected; his problems are mounting.
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. The defender, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to haste when trying to clear a Shankland cross. They gradually fought back into the game, leader McGregor, turning home 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, parried an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in the dying moments. They comfortably saw out the game as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. It is becoming increasingly difficult the noise.
- Detailed coverage coming soon.
