The Jambos Extend 8 Points Ahead at the Summit After Shankland's Penalty Kick Defeats The Glasgow Giants
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, since it's far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that the Edinburgh club possess a real credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. Make that an eight-point lead for Hearts over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. The challenge is now for others.
Turning Point in the Latter Period
Three second-half minutes made the difference, after an opening period that was evenly matched. The striking aspect after they extended their advantage was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the home side. The Greek winger doubled the lead, cutting in from the left before thumping a right-footed shot past the static the Celtic keeper. More joy followed in the stands, Murray bringing down Cláudio Braga for a spot-kick that Shankland tucked away. Rodgers looked dejected; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Fans start to rejoice after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from the hosts' quick opening. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, conceded an own goal due to confusion when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper Callum McGregor, finishing a Tierney cutback for level terms.
Solid Backline
The shot-stopper Alexander Schwolow, who had denied from Benjamin Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett stopped a Shin Yamada attempt in stoppage time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the clock ticked down. “We remain resolute” has become the popular anthem at the ground. It's hard to ignore the noise.
- Full report to follow.
