Hearts Move Eight Points Ahead in Front at the Summit After Shankland's Spot-Kick Overcomes Celtic
We did not witness at their home ground, as it's far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that the Edinburgh club possess a real serious opportunity of breaking Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, after an opening period that was contested closely. It was remarkable 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, cutting in from the left before blasting a strike past the static the goalkeeper. Delight increased in the stands, Dane Murray bringing down Cláudio Braga for a foul that the captain tucked away. Rodgers cut such a disconsolate figure; his problems are mounting.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) gives Hearts the lead against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from the hosts' quick opening. Murray, who struggled throughout, scored an own goal due to panic when trying to deal with a delivery from Shankland. Celtic edged their way back into the game, the captain Callum McGregor, scoring a Tierney cutback for level terms.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The keeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in added time. They comfortably saw out the game as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the favoured chant at the stadium. It is becoming increasingly difficult the buzz.
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