Hearts 2-2 Celtic: Claudio Braga rescues level for leaders towards 10-man Hoops in epic Scottish Premiership battle

Leaders Hearts fought again twice to earn a 2-2 draw with 10-man Celtic in an exciting Scottish Premiership encounter.

It was billed as the largest sport of the season up to now and it lived as much as the hype as Benjamin Nygren curled dwelling a free-kick to provide the Hoops an early lead.

Stuart Findlay headed in an equaliser after missed possibilities from Alex Kyziridis, however Hyun-Jun Yang tapped in an excellent ball from new signing Tomas Cvancara to revive Celtic’s lead.

Hoops defender Auston Trusty was despatched off following a VAR evaluation for a last-ditch problem earlier than Claudio Braga smashed the ball in from one other set-piece to stage once more for Hearts.

Rangers’ 3-0 win towards Dundee means Hearts are actually 4 factors clear on the prime with Celtic dropping to 3rd, two factors behind their Outdated Agency rivals.

Tynecastle thriller

The guests bought off to the right begin when Nygren curled an outstanding free-kick past the left hand of Gordon from 20 yards within the seventh minute. It was the primary time the Parkhead aspect had scored direct from a free-kick since 2021.

Dwelling supervisor Derek McInnes stormed in the direction of the Celtic technical space, visibly angered by the character of the celebrations from a member of the Hoops’ backroom workers.

Hearts responded nicely and Braga and Kyziridis had golden possibilities to equalise however have been denied by Kasper Schmeichel because the Edinburgh aspect loved nearly all of the first-half strain.

The hosts continued on the entrance foot after the break and equalised inside three minutes of the restart when Findlay met Leonard’s nook on the again publish and nodded down into the online.

Hearts seemed set to go forward within the 54th minute when Kyziridis bought himself free within the field however Liam Scales bought again to make an excellent goal-saving problem.

Celtic had provided little as an attacking pressure since their early objective however served a reminder of their menace when Cvancara despatched a looping header towards the woodwork on the hour.

And the champions duly restored their lead two minutes later when Cvancara burst away down the left and rolled a tantalising supply throughout the face of objective for the in-rushing Yang, who rammed dwelling from a few yards.

Moments after Kieran Tierney limped off injured, Celtic have been diminished to 10 males for the second sport working when Trusty was adjudged, following a VAR verify, to have denied a goalscoring alternative by fouling Pierre Landry Kabore as he tried to get on the top of a by way of ball.

Hearts made the additional man rely within the 87th minute when Braga thumped dwelling from eight yards after substitute Oisin McEntee had headed Harry Milne’s free-kick right down to him.

‘No extra a purple card than a blue card!’

Celtic supervisor Martin O’Neill talking to Sky Sports activities:

“It was a very tough match. We have done pretty well. Splendid second goal by us.

“The controversial second, I need to admit, was the purple card.

“It’s no more a red card than a blue card [a proposed 10-minute sin-bin]!

“To begin with, the ball was going away from objective, second of all, we had a participant overlaying. So far as I bear in mind, should you’re going away from objective, it isn’t a purple card.

“I’m not sure that either team had control. We were under pressure, away from home at the league leaders. But after we score the second we were back in control.

“The sending off had a significant impact, psychologically and bodily.

“We’re still in the competition. Simple as that. We’ve given ourselves ground to catch up from, but we’re still there.

“Now we have to attempt to get a consequence on Thursday evening. There’s terrific spirit within the aspect, and that’ll be crucial come the top of the season.”

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