The Tynecastle side Push 8 Points Ahead Ahead at Top After Shankland's Penalty Kick Sees Off The Glasgow Giants
A historic moment didn't occur at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such landmarks. What this match did emphasise is that Hearts are at least in with credible shot of disrupting Scottish football's 40-year dominance by two. That advantage stands at eight points for Hearts over Celtic, whom they comfortably swatted aside. Try to chase them down.
Decisive Period in the Second Half
A brief but pivotal phase were key, following a tight first half that was contested closely. What was so notable after they extended their advantage was how untroubled the rest of the game was for the Tynecastle team. Alexandros Kyziridis scored Hearts’ second, drifting inside before thumping a right-footed shot past the stationary the goalkeeper. More joy followed in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down Braga for a foul that Lawrence Shankland converted. Rodgers cut such a disconsolate figure; he hardly has his troubles to seek.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
The Visitors' Fightback
The away side responded positively from Hearts’ rapid start. Murray, who struggled throughout, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to deal with a Shankland cross. The Hoops worked their way into the game, the captain McGregor, scoring a Tierney pass for the equaliser.
Solid Backline
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had denied from Nygren in the first half, kept out an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the clock ticked down. “We stand firm” has become the popular anthem at the stadium. It's hard to ignore the excitement.
- Full report to follow.
