Hearts strike late to hold Celtic

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27 Dec 2015

By Richard Wilson BSports Scotland at Tynecastle

Celtic moved one point clear of Aberdeen at the top of the Scottish Premiership with a fiercely contested and pulsating draw against Hearts.

The visitors were strong-willed and led twice through Nir Bitton and Tom Rogic.

Those goals were not enough to quell Hearts, who played with relentless commitment before a packed Tynecastle.

Sam Nicholson equalised at the end of the first half and Osman Sow did the same in the 90th minute with a stunning, slightly deflected strike.

Celtic had been immediately assertive. Their play in the opening stages was full of vigour and intent, with Rogic prominent as he dropped into pockets of space between Hearts' defence and midfield.

The visitors were unable to take full advantage, though, and that contributed to the nature of the game, which was so full of energy and commitment that it swept from one incident to another.

There were moments of alarm for the visitors - who lost Stuart Armstrong and Dedryck Boyata to injury in the opening half-hour - with Craig Gordon saving a Kieran Tierney clearance that bounced towards goal and a Gavin Reilly effort.

The visitors' resolve was being tested by the circumstances, but they did not lack spirit and were soon in front.

Hearts were complicit, with Igor Rossi charging out of his position and his centre-back partner Blazej Augustyn failing to clear the ball with an awkward attempt to volley it away.

Morgaro Gomis could not tidy up the mess either, with the ball being pushed towards Bitton, who, with cool assurance, clipped a shot past Neil Alexander.

Tom Rogic scored Celtic's second goal

There was little time for Celtic to build on the lead, since Hearts refused to be subdued. Three minutes later, Prince Buaben sent a deep cross into the penalty area and although Mikael Lustig reached the ball first, Nicholson steered a volley into the far corner.

The play was scrappier after the break, as if composure was treated as an interloper. There was also two heavy collisions in a matter of minutes, as players hurtled into challenges that told of the aggressive determination and desperation to win, and also left bodies scattered on the pitch.

With a strong sense of purpose, Celtic grew into command. There was good fortune when they took the lead, since the ball broke to Rogic at the edge of the area, but he had the presence of mind and deftness of touch to sweep a left-foot shot into the top corner.

It was not the last accomplished moment of the game, though, since Sow, with the aid of a deflection, delivered a hard-struck and well-directed shot past Gordon after receiving the ball from a short free-kick 20 yards out.

Lineup, Bookings (4) & Substitutions (6)

Heart of Midlothian

01 Alexander
02 Paterson
04 Augustyn Booked
18 Rossi
17 Oshaniwa
08 Buaben Abankwah
16 Sutchuin-Djoum (Pallardo Gonzalez - 62' )
06 Gomis (Zanatta - 87' )
11 Nicholson
20 Reilly (King - 80' )
10 Sow

Substitutes

05 Ozturk
12 King
13 Hamilton
14 Pallardo Gonzalez
22 McGhee
23 Swanson
44 Zanatta

Celtic

01 Gordon
23 Lustig
20 Boyata (Ambrose - 33' Booked )
05 Simunovic
63 Tierney
06 Bitton
25 Johansen Booked
42 McGregor
18 Rogic (Mackay-Steven - 78' )
14 Armstrong (Forrest - 20' )
07 Ciftci Booked

Substitutes

03 Izaguirre
04 Ambrose
16 Mackay-Steven
19 Allan
24 Cole
26 Bailly
49 Forrest

Ref: Steven McLean

Att: 16,844

Match Stats

Possession 47 53

Shots

9 12

On target

5 7

Corners

5 4

Fouls

7 15

Live Text Commentary

Full time

Full Time Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 2.

90:00 +4:10 Full time

Full Time Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 2.

90:00 +3:42

Dario Zanatta (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90:00 +3:42

Foul by Nadir Ciftci (Celtic).

90:00 +3:17

Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.

90:00 +3:17

Foul by Efe Ambrose (Celtic).

90:00 +2:22

Prince Buaben (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.

90:00 +2:22

Foul by Stefan Johansen (Celtic).

90:00 +0:06 Goal scored

Goal! Goal! Heart of Midlothian 2, Celtic 2. Osman Sow (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box to the top left corner. Assisted by Prince Buaben following a set piece situation.