Celtic 3-3 hearts

Celtic were beaten twice by Heart in a dramatic 3-3 Scottish Cup final before Conor Hazard was the shootout hero to seal a historic quadruple treble.

Neil Lennon’s team was under pressure heading into the Hampden Park masterpiece, but took a 2-0 lead with a dominant performance in the first half.

Ryan Christie (19) opened things up magnificently before Odsonne Edouard (29) doubled from the penalty spot after Christophe Berra was penalized for handball.

But the second half saw a marked change at Celtic, sparked by Liam Boyce’s (48) early attack to withdraw a Hearts goal before Hawkeye technology confirmed that Stephen Kingsley’s low header was over the line when the side Robbie Neilson’s battlefield leveled things out. .

He sent the game into overtime, and Celtic thought they had won it when Leigh Griffiths (105 + 1) came home late in the first added period. However, the hearts were not defeated, as the spirited Josh Ginnelly (111) atoned for earlier mistakes by pumping the ball home and taking the dramatic tie on penalties.

Craig Gordon, who left Celtic in the summer, lined up against his former team and gave Hearts the upper hand when he saved from Christie. But it was Hazard, 22, who made only his third appearance for Celtic, who prevented Kingsley and Craig Wighton from becoming Celtic’s new hero, with Kristoffer Ajer scoring the winning penalty.

Despite working hard for much of the game, Celtic have won a twelfth consecutive trophy and completed an unprecedented triple triple, with the 2019/20 Scottish Cup victory being the last necessary to complete the season’s national team. pass.

Celtic carried to the end by fighting hearts

Hearts had an early vision of the goal as it started well. Andy Irving sent a free kick into the box, which was helped on its way by Berra. It seemed destined for the bottom corner, but Hazard was low to make the save. Soon after, Steven Naismith nearly caught the Celtic defense as he pushed the ball past the oncoming Hazard, but it rolled off the post.

Almost immediately afterwards, Celtic saw the goal for the first time. After Hearts cleared a free throw, the fumble landed David Turnbull on the right flank. He followed up a couple of times before launching a cross into the box, which flew over Shane Duffy’s head and passed Christopher Jullien’s extended foot.

But Celtic took the lead a few minutes later in spectacular style. Ajer’s chip attempt was turned down by Aidy White on Christie’s trail. He controlled the ball flawlessly around the corner before making a tremendous effort to get past his former teammate Gordon.

Just before half an hour, Celtic received a penalty. Berra was penalized for handball after Duffy’s header from a corner hit him on his raised hand as the Hearts defender also tried to win the ball. The penalty was coldly dispatched by Edouard, sending a bold Panenka past the keeper to double Celtic’s lead.

But from that point on, Celtic were in constant danger of letting go of the quadruple treble, which began three minutes after the break when Hearts responded. White had a magnificent run down the left wing, but was sent by Ajer as he made his way into the area. Andy Halliday picked up the fumble and ducked into a crossing area, which was expertly headed by Boyce in the middle after straying away from Duffy.

Celtic had some half chances, but it was Hearts who should have leveled things at the hour mark. It was a comical defense from Jullien and Duffy as they grouped together trying to clear a single ball. He then landed for the stalking Ginnelly, who drove into the box and needed a superb save from Hazard to deny him the tie.

But the Hearts leveler came in the most dramatic way. The Edinburgh team had a succession of corners, with Ginnelly’s delivery towering over melee over the players in the middle. He reached Kingsley at the back post, who ducked to head the ball over the line before Christie cut it off. The screams came up from Hearts and after a few seconds, the goal line technology confirmed that the ball was completely gone for the tie.

Celtic moved in afterwards but didn’t have many goals in sight. Ginnelly could have won it twice later for Hearts, but sent both efforts flying well into the stands at Hampden Park to send the game into overtime for the first time since 2006.

There were few clear chances in the first period of extra time, but Celtic put another twist on the story when they took the lead at the break. Christie made a corner kick into the box, with a Scott Brown header saved well by Gordon’s feet. But Griffiths was lurking within the six-yard box to send the ball high into the net.

But of course there was more to come when Hearts once again came from behind to level up. Olly Lee hit a free throw into the box, which bounced off Hazard and Peter Haring in the middle of the six-yard box. Kingsley then nodded to the other side, once again lurking in the near post, with Ginnelly atoning for some misses at the end of normal time by turning home.

Penalties seemed like a fitting way to end a dramatic affair and the shootout reflected the 120 minutes of action. Gordon saved Christie to give Hearts the lead, but two wonderful saves by Hazard to deny Kingsley and Wighton put Celtic on the brink of a historic victory. It is up to Ajer to score the resulting penalty, which he did excellently to secure Celtic’s 12th consecutive national title.

Man of the Match – Josh Ginnelly

It was an impressive performance from the Hearts winger, who helped turn the game in his team’s favor with his 57-minute presentation. The Edinburgh side were already on the rise and fit in wonderfully.

Like many players on both sides, he can be found guilty of a poor finish. He really should have taken advantage of some antics defending Celtic and missed two golden opportunities at the end of normal time.

But he finally scored his goal to get the Hearts level back and it was a magnificent finish. Credit should also go to Kinsgley for preparing and matching.

Whats Next?

Celtic are back in Scottish Premiership action Wednesday when they host Ross County; start 6pm. They then travel to Hamilton on Boxing Day, live on Sky Sports; start 3pm. Hearts are also next in action on Boxing Day when they host Ayr at the Scottish Championship; start 3pm.