The Tynecastle side Push 8 Points Ahead in Front at the Pinnacle Following Lawrence Shankland's Penalty Kick Overcomes Celtic
We did not witness at Tynecastle Park, as it's far too early for such achievements. The encounter underlined is that Hearts possess a real credible shot of breaking Scottish football's long-standing dominance by two. Make that an eight-point lead for the team over their rivals, whom they easily dispatched. Catch them if you can.
Key Moments in the Second Half
A crucial three-minute spell made the difference, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. What was so notable after Hearts surged 3-1 in front was how stress-free the remainder of the game was for the home side. Kyziridis doubled the lead, moving infield before thumping a right-footed shot past the motionless the Celtic keeper. Delight increased in the stands, the Celtic defender bringing down the Hearts player for a spot-kick that Shankland tucked away. The Celtic manager appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
The crowd erupted after Kyziridis (second right) puts Hearts 2-1 up against Celtic.
Celtic's Response
Celtic had actually recovered well from Hearts’ rapid start. The defender, who had a difficult day, conceded an own goal due to haste when trying to remove a delivery from Shankland. The Hoops worked their way into the game, the captain McGregor, turning home a Kieran Tierney pass for the equaliser.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The Hearts goalkeeper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, blocked an Arne Engels shot which flicked off Tómas Magnússon. Craig Halkett thwarted a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. Hearts were otherwise untroubled as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at the ground. One cannot overlook the buzz.
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