Hearts 2 Celtic 3

Celtic staged an amazing late comeback to stretch their advantage over stunned Hearts to seven points at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Gordon Strachan's side had been 2-0 down at Tynecastle but two goals in the closing minutes from Stephen McManus completed a turnaround which began with substitute Stephen Pearson's reply.

Edgaras Jankauskas's fifth-minute opener for the Jambos from close range was followed by Steven Pressley's back post header two minutes later from a Rudi Skacel corner.

Pearson pulled a goal back after the break just three minutes are coming on for Stilian Petrov.

And after Hearts' Takis Fyssas was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Maloney, Hoops defender McManus scored a dramatic 88th-minute equaliser before notching the winner in the first minute of injury time.

It was an incredible finale to a match that had begun in a similarly explosive manner.

The first opportunity arrived in the fourth minute and it was the visitors who spurned a great chance to open the scoring.

Alan Thompson nutmegged Paul Hartley wide on the left and when his inch-perfect cross came over to the back post, Petrov was unmarked. But the Bulgarian managed to head over the bar from only eight yards.

The Hoops quickly paid the price for their profligacy as Hearts took the lead a minute later.

Calum Elliot sent the unmarked Hartley scampering away down the left and when the Scottish international's cut-back came across the six-yard box, Jankauskas got a touch and the ball also struck Celtic's Ross Wallace on its way into the net.

Two minutes later there was more delight inside Tynecastle when the home side doubled their lead.

A Skacel corner from the right reached the far post and skipper Pressley rose amongst a crowd of bodies to bullet a header in from close range.

The home side were rampant as stunned Celtic found themselves in uncharted territory, although striker Shaun Maloney's deflected free-kick from 30 yards almost caught out Jambos keeper Craig Gordon. An effort from Petrov in the 19th minute was also gathered by Gordon at the second attempt.

Skacel then tested Artur Boruc with a low drive from 16 yards which the Polish goalkeeper did well to hold.

And in the 27th minute, the Jambos came close again, Skacel heading an Elliot cross from the right just past the post.

Just after the half-hour mark, Gordon did well to hold on to a Shunsuke Nakamura cross from the right side of the penalty area with John Hartson poised to capitalise on any fumble.

In the 43rd minute Boruc had to pull off a magnificent save from Skacel after the Czech midfielder blasted a volley at goal from 16 yards out.

Right on the half-time whistle Jambos defender Robbie Neilson was lucky to escape punishment after appearing to lash out at Petrov just yards from the assistant linesman.

There was no let-up at the beginning of the second half as both sides resumed with impressive energy and enthusiasm.

The Glasgow giants looked to have been dealt another blow in the 52nd minute when Petrov pulled up and had to be replaced by Pearson, but the former Motherwell player's impact on the game was almost immediate and positive.

Three minutes later Maloney raced down the left and cut the ball back, allowing Pearson the easiest of tasks to knock the ball in from close range.

The pendulum had swung towards the league leaders now and roared on by their large travelling support, Celtic edged inexorably towards Gordon in the Hearts goal.

Yet in the 63rd minute, just before Aiden McGeady replaced the ineffective Thompson for the visitors, Elliot flashed a dangerous drive across the Celtic six-yard box but found no takers.

Celtic resumed their pounding of the Hearts goal and in the 76th minute the temperature rose again after Jambos defender Fyssas was shown a straight red card by referee Iain Brines for a challenge on Maloney.

The league leaders turned the screw and in the 88th minute they eventually drew level.

Nakamura's free-kick from wide on the right flew into the Hearts penalty area and McManus headed home from close range.

However, the drama was not yet over. In the first minute of injury time the Hoops scored an amazing late winner, McManus again on hand to knock the ball over the line following another Nakamura free-kick.

The Edinburgh side were shattered along with, in all probability, their title hopes.

Taken from sportinglife.com