The Tynecastle side Extend 8 Points Ahead Clear at the Summit After Shankland's Penalty Defeats Celtic
A historic moment didn't occur at their home ground, as it's far too early for such milestones. What this match did emphasise is that the Edinburgh club have a genuine strong chance of breaking Scottish football's long-standing stranglehold. They now lead by eight points for the team over their rivals, whom they decisively beat. The challenge is now for others.
Turning Point in the Latter Period
A brief but pivotal phase made the difference, once the initial exchanges that was contested closely. 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 firing a powerful effort past the stationary Kasper Schmeichel. Delight increased in the stands, Murray bringing down the Hearts player for a foul that Lawrence Shankland slotted home. Brendan Rodgers appeared frustrated; challenges abound for him.
Fans start to rejoice after Alexandros Kyziridis (second right) scores to make it 2-1 against the opposition.
Celtic's Response
The away side responded positively from an early setback. Murray, who endured a torrid afternoon, turned the ball into his own net due to panic when trying to remove a Shankland cross. The Hoops worked their way into the game, skipper McGregor, scoring a Kieran Tierney pull-back for 1-1.
Hearts' Defensive Resilience
The keeper Schwolow, who had made a brilliant stop from Nygren in the first half, parried an Arne Engels shot which deflected off Tómas Magnússon. Halkett blocked a Shin Yamada attempt in added time. The hosts faced little else as the game concluded. “We stand firm” has become the Tynecastle verse of choice at Tynecastle. One cannot overlook the excitement.
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