Match Report: Celtic 3-0 Hearts

A primary half double from Kyogo and a late Matt O’Riley penalty noticed Hearts fall to defeat at Parkhead on Saturday afternoon.

Steven Naismith named an unchanged 11 for the journey to Glasgow’s east finish, following final weekend’s stalemate at Rugby Park.

For many visiting sides heading to Celtic Park, chances are high few and much between, however the males in maroon spurned a gap inside simply 60 seconds.

It was good play from Kenneth Vargas, to pick Dexter Lembikisa. The marauding wingback managed to get to the byline and lower the ball again for Lawrence Shankland. His left-foot shot appeared destined for the again of the online, however it was a wonderful cease from Cameron Carter-Vickers, to deflect his shot away from objective and behind for a nook.

The Jambos had been punished for that missed alternative simply three minutes later, as Celtic opened the scoring from a nook of their very own. It was initially a great punch from Zander Clark, however when Reo Hatate returned the ball with a lofted cross, Kyogo was readily available to go house the opening objective.

Hearts didn’t let that early setback part them and so they had been inches away from drawing degree on the 10-minute mark. Shankland once more was capable of decide up a harmful pocket of area, earlier than turning and charging on the Celtic backline. He laid the ball into the trail of Cammy Devlin, who’s highly effective volley was excellently saved by Joe Hart.

Celtic doubled their lead on 21 minutes. Kyogo timed his run effectively, in between Frankie Kent and Kye Rowles, earlier than slotting house previous Clark.

The boys in maroon continued to create possibilities and once more got here shut simply earlier than the half hour mark. Once more, it got here from optimistic play from Lembikisa and after his cross discovered Devlin, it was a wonderful block from a inexperienced and white shirt to disclaim his shot from point-blank vary.

From the ensuing nook, Hearts got here shut once more. Stephen Kingsley rose highest on the again publish, however he may solely head Alex Cochrane’s nook huge.

Clark hadn’t had loads to do for almost all of the primary 45, however he got here up with three good stops from distance within the closing minutes of the half. Firstly, holding Greg Taylor’s long-range effort, earlier than beating away Reo Hatate’s volley from the sting of the field. The very best of the bunch got here within the closing minute of regular time, clawing away Kyogo’s effort, after affected person build-up play from the house facet.

Half-time: Celtic 2-0 Hearts

After approaching robust in the direction of the top of the half, the house facet had been fast out the traps after the break with Clark as soon as once more being referred to as into motion to maintain Celtic out on the hour mark.

The league leaders had began to dominate possession with Hearts seeking to hit on the break. The introduction of Yutaro Oda supplied contemporary impetus in assault and the Japense winger nearly halved the deficit 16 minutes from time.

He picked the pocket of Greg Taylor and drove ahead earlier than testing Joe Hart from contained in the penalty field.

Celtic added a 3rd from the penalty spot on 87 minutes. Shankland was penalised for handball and Matt O’Riley despatched the ball excessive into the online to spherical off the scoring.

Celtic: Hart, Johnston, Taylor, Scales, Kyogo (Idah, 72), Kühn (Maeda, 72), Carter-Vickers, O’Riley, Hatate (Iwata, 71), McGregor (Bernardo, 88), Forrest (Palma, 83)

Subs: Bain, Palma, Idah, Yang, Nawrocki, Iwata, Bernardo, Maeda, Ralston

Hearts: Clark, Kent, Kingsley (Oda, 72), Baningime, Grant (Fraser, 62), Shankland ©, Devlin (McKay, 72), Rowles, Cochrane, Vargas (Tagawa, 82), Lembikisa (Atkinson, 62)

Subs: Gordon, Oda, Atkinson, Forrest, McKay, Sibbick, Denholm, Fraser, Tagawa