Hearts Move 8 Points Ahead Ahead at the Summit Following Shankland's Penalty Defeats Celtic
We did not witness at Tynecastle, since it's far too early for such achievements. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts have a genuine strong chance of ending Scottish football's four decade-long dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the team over Celtic, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the Latter Period
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, after an opening period that was evenly matched. It was remarkable after they took a 3-1 lead was how untroubled the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Kyziridis doubled the lead, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, Dane Murray fouling Cláudio Braga for a spot-kick that Lawrence Shankland converted. The Celtic manager appeared frustrated; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against Celtic.
Hoops' Reaction
Celtic bounced back from the hosts' quick opening. Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to haste when trying to remove a Shankland cross. They gradually fought back into the game, leader McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney cutback for the equaliser.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Engels shot which flicked off Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Yamada attempt in the dying moments. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the popular anthem at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the excitement.
- Complete analysis coming soon.
