Hearts and Celtic Share Spoils in Thrilling Title Race Encounter
In a pulsating Scottish Premiership showdown at Tynecastle, Hearts and Celtic battled to a 2-2 draw, with Cláudio Braga's late strike ensuring the hosts stayed clear of the champions in the title race. The result leaves Hearts' hopes for a first league crown since 1960 alive, but Martin O'Neill's Celtic side demonstrated resilience to halt their winning run against the Old Firm this season.
Early Drama and Debutants
The match kicked off amid a deafening roar from the Tynecastle crowd, underscoring the fixture's significance. However, Hearts initially struggled with nerves, their play appearing rushed and forced for the opening half-hour, which played into Celtic's hands. As cooler heads prevailed, the home team's performance improved markedly.
Both sides fielded debutants, with Marc Leonard, on loan from Birmingham, starting in central midfield for Hearts, and Tomas Cvancara, the towering Czech forward signed from Borussia Mönchengladbach, leading the line for Celtic. Their afternoons would prove contrasting, with Leonard growing into the game after a shaky start.
Celtic Strike First Through Nygren
Celtic capitalised on Hearts' early jitters in the seventh minute. Benjamin Nygren darted towards the Hearts area, only to be pulled down by Leonard just outside the box. Nygren took the resulting free-kick himself, firing a powerful shot past Craig Gordon, who was beaten more by the shot's force than its accuracy.
The goal sparked heated exchanges on the touchline, with Hearts manager Derek McInnes taking exception to Celtic's celebrations, leading to a brief confrontation that required intervention from the fourth official. Assistant managers Paul Sheerin and Shaun Maloney also engaged in a tense discussion later in the match.
Missed Opportunities and Set-Piece Vulnerabilities
Hearts had chances to level quickly, with Cláudio Braga breaking into the Celtic area but shooting tamely at Kasper Schmeichel. Alexandros Kyziridis missed a golden opportunity when a defensive error by Auston Trusty put him clean through, only for Schmeichel to make a crucial leg save.
Kyziridis squandered another clear chance in the second half, but Hearts found their way back into the game through set-piece prowess. Leonard, improving as the match progressed, delivered a corner to the back post, where Stuart Findlay rose above two Celtic defenders to head home past Schmeichel, exposing Celtic's vulnerability at dead-ball situations.
Celtic Respond and Red Card Drama
Celtic, who had shown little threat after their early lead, burst back into life. Cvancara headed a Nygren cross against the bar, then led a swift break down the left, setting up Yang Hyun-jun for a close-range finish to restore their advantage.
The match took a spicy turn when Cvancara was booked for a needless challenge on Leonard. Soon after, Leonard's through-ball released Pierre Landry Kaboré, who was hauled down by Trusty. Referee Steven McLean initially showed only a yellow card, sparking fury at Tynecastle, but after a VAR review, he upgraded it to a red, sending Trusty off and leaving Celtic with ten men for the remainder.
Braga's Late Heroics and Title Race Implications
Hearts pressed hard against the ten-man Celtic, with Braga missing a point-blank chance earlier in the half. However, he redeemed himself with four minutes of normal time remaining, lashing home from a set piece after Oisin McEntee headed down Harry Milne's free-kick into a crowded area.
There was still time for Hearts to push for a winner, with Blair Spittal's 97th-minute drive skimming the top of Schmeichel's crossbar. The draw means Rangers moved to within four points of Hearts with their victory over Dundee, tightening the Scottish Premiership title race and setting up a thrilling climax to the season.
Hearts must now cope without key injured players like Cammy Devlin and Lawrence Shankland for six to eight weeks, adding pressure as they aim to challenge Celtic's dominance. This breathless encounter proved that the Scottish title race is finally worthy of the name, with every point crucial in the battle for supremacy.
