Match Report: Celtic 2-0 Hearts

Hearts had been defeated 2-0 by Celtic at Parkhead this afternoon.

Second half strikes from Arne Engels and Luke McCowan secured the factors for the desk topping hosts, however the Jambos gave a battling account of themselves within the east finish of Glasgow.

Steven Naismith made three alterations to the facet that confronted Dundee United previous to the worldwide break. Kye Rowles slotted into defence rather than the in poor health Frankie Kent, while Gerald Taylor changed Yutaro Oda, with the match once more Beni Baningime drafted in forward of Blair Spittal.

The primary probability of the piece fell the best way of Celtic after three minutes with a nicely labored transfer down the suitable facet. Alastair Johnston did nicely to make floor earlier than delivering a low ball throughout the face if purpose that was despatched broad on the final second by Arne Engels.

One other got here after seven minutes when a pleasant ball ahead from Callum McGregor picked out Daizen Maeda with accuracy. The Celtic bared on purpose and lobbed Craig Gordon, with Gerald Taylor in a position to race in and hook the ball away from hazard.

The Jambos rode their luck and had been lucky when Kyogo Furuhashi blasted broad from a wonderful place after a slack cross within the Hearts midfield allowed the Japanese ahead to steal a march.

Possibilities continued to tumble from the Glasgow sky, with Craig Gordon referred to as into motion for the primary time after quarter-hour as he parried a vicious snapshot from Reo Hatate from the sting of the realm.

Celtic had been unlucky to not declare the lead after 22 minutes when Engels was despatched into the Hearts space following a elegant flick-on from Nicolas Kuhn. The Dutchman shot from an angle, along with his effort crashing out off the put up as Hearts cleared.

The half-hour mark noticed two large moments for Hearts. Jorge Grant’s supply from the free kick noticed Shankland’s header saved by Kasper Schmeichel. From the ensuing nook, one other Shankland header appeared to have been dealt with by Liam Scales.

After a prolonged VAR assessment from referee Colin Steven, it was ultimately overturned as no penalty. From there, Hearts began to construct themselves up after weathering a storm for a lot of the primary half.

Lawrence Shankland displayed a pleasant roll away from his marker after a one-two with Jorge Grant, going for purpose from 25-yards – along with his correct effort not fairly having sufficient energy to beat Schmeichel, who claimed.

In a half filled with motion, Craig Gordon produced a effective save in stoppage time to disclaim Kyogo, earlier than James Penrice made an important intervention to forestall Nicolas Kuhn’s rebounded effort from crossing the road.

HT: Celtic 0-0 Coronary heart of Midlothian

The second half begun in disappointing trend for Hearts as Celtic broke the impasse after 51 minutes by means of an Arne Engels penalty. James Penrice was judged to have dealt with Kuhn’s cross.

One other prolonged session with VAR adopted, with referee Colin Steven awarding the spot kick to the hosts. Engels stepped as much as ship Gordon the improper approach as Celtic claimed the lead.

Good defending by Craig Halkett prevented Celtic from grabbing a quickfire second, as he threw his physique right down to divert Arne Engels’ shut vary try behind after good construct up play from Celtic.

Hearts saved at it with Lawrence Shankland fashioning a great probability for himself on the hour mark. He deftly managed the ball and unleashed one other vicious strike at Kasper Schmeichel, with the Dane pressured into making a great save.

As the sport entered its closing ten minutes, Hearts had been nonetheless within the recreation. Substitute Blair Spittal made a menace of himself on the left flank along with his looking cross choosing out debutant Musa Drammeh – he acquired a foot to it from shut vary with Schmeichel throwing himself right down to halt it.

With the sport into it’s closing phases, Celtic added a second by means of Luke McCowan. James Forrest laid the ball into his path on the sting of the field, along with his ranged strike beating Gordon.

And inside eight minutes of added time, Adam Idah thought he had added quickfire third after the Irishman sweeped dwelling a cross – with a subsequent VAR verify ruling the purpose out for offside.

Celtic: Schmeichel, Johnston, Taylor, Scales, Furuhashi (Idah 70’), Kühn (Bernardo 65’), Carter-Vickers, Engels (McCowan 80’), Maeda (Palma 80’), Hatate (Forrest 65’), McGregor ©

Subs: Sinisalo, Trusty, Palma, Idah, Valle, McCowan, Bernardo, Forrest, Ralston

Hearts: Gordon, Kingsley, Halkett, Baningime (Dhanda 78’), Grant (Devlin 70’), Shankland © (Forrest 80’), Rowles, Boateng, Penrice (Spittal 80’), Vargas (Musa 70’), Taylor

Subs: Clark, Kent, Oyegoke, Devlin, Spittal, Forrest, Dhanda, Musa, Salazar