Celtic 2 Hearts 1

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

Celtic extended their lead over Hearts at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League to 13 points after coming from behind to grab a dramatic 2-1 win.

In the 72nd minute, Tynecastle striker Andrius Velicka skipped past Stephen McManus before driving beyond Artur Boruc to stun Celtic Park.

However, in the 86th minute, the Hoops were back on level terms when substitute Jiri Jarosik, who had replaced Evander Sno, headed a Shunsuke Nakamura corner past Craig Gordon for a dramatic equaliser.

Then, deep into four minutes of added time, the home side grabbed a sensational winner with a scrappy goal.

Following yet another corner, Gordon pushed the ball into his own net when it looked like he had possession of McManus' shot from inside a packed penalty area.

It was perhaps cruel luck on the Edinburgh side who deserved at least a point but the victory was a tribute the never-say-die spirit of the champions.

Jambos midfielder Paul Hartley sent a snap-shot from 20 yards over the bar within a minute of the kick-off to signal the intent from the visitors who began the game confidently.

The home side, perhaps still smarting from the Champions League defeat by Benfica in midweek, gingerly played their way into the match.

The Parkhead side, however, for all their movement and pace, found it difficult to break down the Hearts defence which, at times, consisted of the whole side apart from lone striker Velicka.

In the 18th minute, a 20-yard drive from Hoops midfielder Nakamura breached the maroon rearguard but was easily gathered by Gordon.

In the 21st minute a low drive from Maciej Zurawski following a swift counter-attack was parried into the air by Gordon but the stretching Miller failed to get the rebound on target.

The Edinburgh side began to show a little more ambition but still the ball tended to drift towards Gordon's goal, Jose Goncalves erratic defending in the Jambos' left-back area contributing to the situation.

But the pattern of the match changed in a two-minute spell.

On the half-hour mark, the Celtic defence was caught out by the pace of Saulius Mikoliunas who drew a good save from Boruc with his right-footed drive from 12 yards.

Unmarked Hearts midfielder Deividas Cesnauskis looked well-placed to knock home the rebound from close-range but stretched to volley wide.

The home side were instantly struck with nerves.

Cesnauskis burst into the Celtic penalty area and set up Velicka with an even better chance with a cut-back but the Hearts striker missed his kick and the ball ran wide.

Hearts replaced Cesnauskis with Nerijus Barasa at the break as stand-in head coach Eduard Malofeev tweaked his line-up.

With every Celtic mistake, the home fans added to the tension around the stadium.

In the 50th minute Hoops defender Paul Telfer gave up on a ball he thought had gone out for a throw and there was a moment of tension and fury inside the stadium until Mikoliunas, who carried on in possession, lashed his angled shot wide.

The introduction of Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink for Zurawski just before the hour mark gave the Celtic fans a quick boost, but it was clear the team were struggling to find any rhythm.

In the 64th minute, Celtic midfielder Evander Sno lost possession to Velicka deep in his own half and there was collective sigh of relief from the home fans when the Gorgie striker drove wildly over the bar.

But, in the 72nd minute, there was high drama inside Celtic Park when Velicka finally made the breakthrough after Neil Lennon was caught out in the middle of the park.

Hearts midfielder Bruno Aguiar sent the Lithuanian through the middle and the striker went past McManus with ease before driving low past Boruc from the edge of the penalty area.

The home side brought on midfielders Jarosik and Shaun Maloney for Sno and McGeady within the space of a couple of minutes as they tried desperately to get back into the game.

And, in the 86th minute, the champions were back on level terms when Jarosik found space inside a packed Hearts area to head a Nakamura corner past Gordon from around eight yards out.

Seconds later, as the home side went for the winner, Gordon made a crucial save from a Nakamura free-kick.

But it was to end in despair for the Scotland keeper.

Deep into four minutes of added time, the home side took the lead with the aid of Gordon, who pushed the ball into his own net when it looked like he had possession of McManus' shot.

Teams:

Celtic Boruc, Telfer, Naylor, Caldwell, McManus, Nakamura,Lennon, Sno (Jarosik 74), McGeady (Maloney 78), Miller,Zurawski (Vennegoor of Hesselink 59).

Subs Not Used: Marshall, Pearson, Balde, O'Dea.

Booked: Lennon.

Goals: Jarosik 86, Gordon 90 og.

Hearts Gordon, Neilson, Berra, Tall, Goncalves,Cesnauskis (Barasa 45), Hartley, Aguiar (Fyssas 80),Mikoliunas, Velicka, Zaliukas.

Subs Not Used: Banks, Jankauskas, Wallace, Brellier, Mole.

Booked: Tall, Neilson.

Goals: Velicka 72.

Att: 58,971

Ref: Craig Thomson (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com