Velicka Stuns Celtic In Last Minute

Dec 3 2007 Keith Jackson Reports

HEARTS 1

CELTIC 1

THOSE who live by the last-minute goal will die by the last-minute goal. Or at the very least they will draw because of one of them.

Such was Celtic's fate on Saturday when - just three days after the wild celebrations that followed their stunning last-gasp victory over Shakhtar Donetsk - they were left in a state of shellshock as the tables were turned in dramatic fashion.

It was not that Hearts made off with more than they deserved. Quite the opposite in fact.

The Edinburgh side were worth their point and perhaps will feel as if they were hard done by.

Slick and sophisticated when they had the ball and yet willing to to the dirty, ugly stuff when they did not, Hearts proved almost impossible for Celtic to play against and for long periods the champions looked strangely off the pace.

And yet Gordon Strachan and his group have learned what it takes to win titles. On days such as this sometimes it can be enough to be stubborn, dogged and unwilling to settle for second prizes.

That's what kept them going even when Hearts were threatening to do serious damage. Quite simply Celtic's players stood tall and ushered them on.

Then when it seemed as if the home side might have punched themselves out Scott McDonald conjured up what looked for all the world like a knock-out blow.

This little Australian is quickly becoming a phenomenon. There were many who did not believe him to be cut out for the top level when he moved from Motherwell in the summer but McDonald has emerged as a man Celtic can't do without.

The Aussie's goals - he has 15 this season and became the first player in this season's top flight to net in four consecutive SPL matches - are underpinning a title defence.

Should this streak continue McDonald could end the season with a Golden Shoe in his trophy cabinet alongside a league medal.

Had McDonald's latest piece of expert poaching been enough to secure all three points Celtic would have sent out a message - one that would have carried all the way back across the M8 a great deal more rapidly than the team bus. Instead this time it was Hearts who came up with a last-minute miracle and because of it the Old Firm are separated by a single point.

The race to the flag is becoming fascinating and if the likes of Hearts can perform as manfully as they did at the weekend on a consistent basis the road ahead will be fraught with danger for both of them.

However, that is a big if - for one reason in particular. Laryea Kingston may be the height of nonsense but his influence on this team is truly massive.

The little Ghanaian was a standout against Celtic, oozing class and dripping with trickery. Kingston was a joy to watch as he picked his way around a congested midfield with-out looking rushed or short of space.

But in a few weeks Kingston will pack his bags and join half of England's Premiership at the African Nations. He will be gone for five weeks. Maybe longer.

It's hard to imagine what Hearts will do without him. If McDonald is Celtic's spearhead Kingston is the beating heart of Hearts.

Few players in this country have the ability to set the pulses racing but there is something to be admired about the manner in which this man goes about his work. He was head and shoulders above the rest in a midfield battle that also included the likes of Scott Bro and Paul Hartley.

Darren O'Dea struggled to deal with Kingston and Andy Driver but he was not alone as there were others in green and white watching the game pass them by.

The re-energised Jiri Jarosik was prepared to get his socks mud and fizzed a cracking drive wide the target in 15 minutes.

But Brown, Hartley and Aiden McGeady were off the pace and at the heart of Celtic's defence comeback man Steven Pressley was showing signs of rust.

Hearts could have been in front in just two minutes when Audrius Ksanavicius slashed a shot across the face of goal.

McDonald should also have hit the target in 31 minutes when he missed Celtic's only decent chance of the half, scooping over from eight yards after McGeady had outstripped Jose Goncalves for the first time.

Strachan's half-time address would have been something to behold. Whatever perils he offered had an effect on Brown, McGeady and Hartley - and all improved.

As a result the contest became something of a dull stalemate and it didn't help when both sets of fans started baiting each other - indulging in the kind of chants that left a bitter taste in the mouth.

With Hearts' raids becoming less and less frequent the champions came up with a haymaker in 72 minutes from McDonald.

His goal was a disaster for keeper Anthony Basso who was asked to make a save for the first time when Hartley's free-kick curled towards the centre of his goal.

For some reason Basso had stepped too far to his right and his attempt at making up the ground was comical as was his limp-wristed attempt at slapping the ball away.

He succeeded only in patting it gently into the path of McDonald who reacted quickly to slam a volley home from six yards. And that was that. Or so it seemed. As victory appeared secure Ksanavicius let fly one last time, forcing Artur Boruc into a spectacular save.

The Pole beat the ball up into the air when he might have managed to get it over his bar.

It landed close to the bye-line and this unnerved Gary Caldwell who bundled into the back of Ibrahim Tall even though the Hearts man was in no position to score.

Ref Kenny Clark pointed to the spot and up stepped sub Andrius Velicka to smash an emphatic penalty past Boruc.

As late twists go this one was as stunning as it was unexpected.

But as they hauled their weary limbs on board the flight to Milan yesterday morning, Celtic's players will have been hoping normal service might soon be resumed.

Tomorrow night at the San Siro would do just fine.

MAN OF THE MATCH Laryea Kingston (Hearts)

MATCH STATS

POSSESSION %

50 50

SHOTS ON TARGET

3 2

SHOTS OFF TARGET

6 6

CORNERS

3 5

FOULS CONCEDED

20 9

OFFSIDES

0 4

HEARTS

MAN BY MAN

Anthony Basso: Sold the goal with a nightmarish mistake. 4

Robbie Neilson: Typically solid shift. 6

Christophe Berra: Hustled a few times by McDonald but strong in the air. 8

Ibrahim Tall: A real rock in defence. 8

Jose Goncalves: Coped well when McGeady raised his game after the break. 7

Andy Driver: Full of drive down Hearts right. Caused O'Dea constant problems. 7

Laryea Kingston: An absolute joy to watch. Composed, slick and inventive. 8

Marius Zaliukas: Did dirty work well. 6

Ruben Palazuelos: Harried Celtic out of their stride. 6

Audrius Ksanavicius: Missed early sitter, rattled woodwork and his shot led to injury-time penalty. Worked hard. 7

Christian Nade: Built like a heavyweight boxer, his pace and power troubled Pressley. A terrific shift. 7

Subs: Andrius Velicka - on just in time to see Celtic score, 3. Calum Elliot - got last 12 minutes as side chased equaliser, 2. Saulius Mikoliunas - thrown on at same time, 2

CELTIC

MAN BY MAN

Artur Boruc: Might be asking himself if he could have done better with the shot that led to Hearts pulling level. 6

Gary Caldwell: Ruined a solid performance by gifting penalty. 6

Steven Pressley: Looked a little creaky as he felt his way back to match fitness. 6 Stephen McManus: Calm and assured in the face of some sustained pressure. 7

Darren O'Dea: Looked shaky from the start in his role as emergency left-back but 90 minutes will have done him good. 6

Aiden McGeady: Struggled to get into the contest until after the break. 6

Paul Hartley: Played key part in the goal. 7

Scott Brown: Grew stronger as the match wore on. 6

Jiri Jarosik: Hungry, lively and committed. 7

Scott McDonald: His goals are underpinning the title bid. 7

Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink: An unselfish display. Dropped deeper than usual to help out in defence. 6

Sub: Chris Killen - put himself about for the last three minutes, 2.

MAGIC MOMENT

Kingston's second-minute run set the tone for a delicious individual display.

Taken from the Daily Record