Hearts 2 Celtic 5 (aet)

By Chris Roberts, PA Sport

Celtic illustrated tonight that they have the strength in depth to handle the most gruelling of campaigns after coming through a titanic struggle at Tynecastle to book their place in the semi-final of the CIS Insurance Cup.

The thrilling extra-time victory came minus the likes of Henrik Larsson and Paul Lambert.

And promising youngsters Stephen Crainey and Jamie Smith produced two great strikes in normal time before Colin Healy hit the winner.

Late goals from Lubo Moravcik and Jackie McNamara flattered Celtic but it will be their name that goes into Friday's draw.

Hearts certainly gave manager Jim Jefferies everything he asked for and more as befitting a team in crisis.

Colin Cameron gave his side the lead and again scored from the spot to force the extra period.

Jefferies made four changes from the side which lost at home to St Johnstone and it seemed to have the desired effect.

Striker Andy Kirk was looking lively and he got away down the left flank in the 11th minute before picking out Scott Severin in the centre, who could only blaze over the bar.

But Hearts' hopes were dealt a massive blow in the 16th minute as the game was held up for nearly five minutes when Thomas Flogel and Gary Locke went up for a header with Crainey and the two Hearts players came off worse following a clash of heads.

The pair were both stretchered off as everyone looked on anxiously and substitutes Juanjo and Robbie Nielson both got their chance to make amends for their weekend show.

Jonathan Gould's mistake in the Celtic goal almost brought the first goal on the half hour when he failed to hold Cameron's shot and he made amends to save Nielson's rebound.

Hearts were giving everything for under-pressure Jefferies and for the injured duo and in the 36th minute they took the lead from the penalty spot after Riseth had tripped Juanjo in the box.

Alan Stubbs was then booked for an earlier foul on Kirk and Thompson was shown the yellow card for dissent and to make matters worse Cameron stepped up to fire home into the bottom corner.

Thompson needed to watch himself and just three minutes later he was lucky not to be shown the red card following a late challenge on Severin, but the referee took a lenient view.

But Hearts' joy was short-lived as Celtic got back on level terms as Tommy Johnson cut the ball back from the by-line and Moravcik stepped over the ball leaving Crainey to fire a low shot into the bottom corner.

McNamara became the next man in the book in the final moments of the mark for a challenge on Severin as the sides went in at the break all-square.

After the restart the home side gave Celtic a warning when Juanjo blazed just wide from just outside the box.

But the game come to life again in the 52nd minute and Celtic goalkeeper Gould had to make a brilliant stop to deny Kirk, who hit a fierce shot that the Scotland star pushed on to the bar and over.

The game was flowing from end to end and moments later Moravcik crossed for Smith, but Niemi made a superb save from point-blank range.

The visitors were furious in the 53rd minute when they should have had a penalty as Johnson got to the by-line and crossed for Smith, but the youngster got bundled over by Steven Pressley.

Niemi then had to get down well to save a testing free-kick from Thompson - with the game on knife's edge.

But Celtic were in front for the first time on the hour when McNamara played the ball between Petric and Pressley and Smith took it in his stride before ramming the ball past Niemi's out-stretched hand.

Healy was booked for persistent fouling soon after but Hearts were back on level terms again in the 70th minute and it came courtesy of another Cameron penalty.

Joos Valgaeren was adjudged to have handled Kirk's cross in the area and referee Kenny Clark had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and up stepped Cameron to send Gould the wrong way again.

Riseth was the next player to be shown the yellow card following an unnecessary tug on Juanjo's shirt.

Celtic should have gone ahead again in the 77th minute as Thompson's cross found its way to Moravcik, but not realising the time he had, he hit it first time and the ball ended up in the crowd.

Johnson was then handed a glorious chance 10 minutes from time as Thompson seized on Tomaschek's mistake and played the striker clean through, but he blazed over the bar with Niemi beaten.

Smith then wasted the chance of his second when Nielson was dispossessed by Crainey, but they youngster fired straight at Niemi.

Smith was booked for a challenge on Fulton as the game went into extra time.

Gould was tested in the 98th minute and he responded with a brilliant stop to deny Kirk's goal-bound effort.

But Celtic responded and were back in front moments later Petta's cross was headed against the post by Johnson and Healy was on hand to slot the ball home into the bottom corner.

Petrov, Johnson and Valgaeren all went close to sealing the victory before Moravcik (116) and McNamara (117), secured Celtic's place in the last four of the competition.

Teams

Hearts: Niemi, Pressley, Murray, Locke (Neilson 16), Flogel (Juanjo 16), Petric, Kirk, Fulton (Milne 101), Severin, Cameron, Tomaschek.

Subs Not Used: O'Neil, McKenzie.

Booked: Severin.

Goals: Cameron 36 pen, 70 pen.

Celtic Gould, Johnson (Boyd 118), Healy, McNamara, Valgaeren, Stubbs, Moravcik, Thompson, Riseth, Crainey (Petta 91), Smith (Petrov 99).

Subs Not Used: Mjallby, Kerr.

Booked: Stubbs, Thompson, McNamara, Healy, Riseth, Smith.

Goals: Crainey 41, Smith 60, Healy 99, Moravcik 116, McNamara 117. After Extra Time

Att: 13,076

Ref: K Clark (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com