Scottish Premiership

Wednesday, January 26, 2022

Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh

HEARTS…1

(Boyce 62)

CELTIC…2

(Hatate 27, Giakoumakis 35)

A Reo Hatate wonder-goal and a cheeky Giorgos Giakoumakis back-heel were enough for Celtic to earn three points in a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.

Those two first half strikes looked to put the Hoops in command after a scintillating opening 45-minute performance, however, the hosts got themselves back into the game with a goal from Liam Boyce on 62 minutes.

Ange Postecoglou’s side had luck on their side as Boyce missed a penalty for Hearts with 17 minutes to go, but in the end, it was a deserved win for the 90-minute performance that increased the unbeaten domestic run to 20 matches.

The opening 10 minutes at Tynecastle were more on the scrappy side, as the Celts looked to find their rhythm in the match.

With the home support urging Hearts forward, the hosts were on the front foot from the off trying to force the Celtic backline into mistakes and Barrie McKay had the first effort of the match inside one minute but fired over the bar from distance.

However, it didn’t take the Hoops long to find their feet in the game, with new Bhoy Matt O’Riley showcasing his abilities with some wonderful touches in the opening minutes of his debut.

Jota was another making his first start of the year for Celtic and the Portuguese winger was enjoying himself in the early stages and almost opened the scoring twice on 16 minutes, using his pace and trickery to find space and forced Craig Gordon into back-to-back saves at his near post.

But when Hatate had his go on goal on 27 minutes, Gordon was left with no hope as the Japanese midfielder sent a thunderbolt past the former Hoops keeper to move Celtic 1-0 up.

Collecting the ball from Nir Bitton’s interception on the halfway line, Hatate drove forward with only one thing on his mind and unleashed a bullet from around 30 yards to score his first goal in the green and white.

Then eight minutes later, the Celtic fans were back on their feet as the lead was doubled. Hatate this time was involved in the buildup as he found O’Riley on the right and his low cross into the box was perfect for Giakoumakis who instinctively back-heeled the ball into the net.

Hatate and Giakoumakis goals help deliver three points at Tynecastle