The Tynecastle side Move Eight Points Ahead Clear at Top Following Lawrence Shankland's Spot-Kick Overcomes Celtic
We did not witness at Tynecastle Park, since it's far too early for such landmarks. The encounter underlined is that the Edinburgh club have a genuine serious opportunity of disrupting Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for the maroon side over Celtic, whom they decisively beat. The challenge is now for others.
Turning Point in the Second Half
A crucial three-minute spell were key, following a tight first half that was contested closely. The striking aspect after they took a 3-1 lead was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the hosts. Alexandros Kyziridis netted the second goal, moving infield before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless Kasper Schmeichel. More joy followed in the stands, Dane Murray upending Braga for a penalty that the captain slotted home. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; his problems are mounting.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from an early setback. Murray, who had a difficult day, turned the ball into his own net due to confusion when trying to deal with a delivery from Shankland. They gradually fought back into the game, leader Callum McGregor, finishing a Kieran Tierney cutback for the equaliser.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, who had saved superbly from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Engels shot which touched Tómas Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Yamada attempt in stoppage time. They comfortably saw out the game as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the noise.
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