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Hearts lose out to a cruel injury time goal |
Hearts eventually lost out to Celtic at Parkhead after an injury time Glenn Loovens header sunk the Jambos. Suso shot the away side into a surprise lead just five minutes into the match and Hearts could well have been 2-0 up if Andy Driver's shot had managed to elude Caldwell who hooked it off the line. Celtic hit back early in the second half through Chris Killen before Loovens late header wrapped up the points for Celtic.
Csaba Laszlo made two changes to the side that faced Kilmarnock at Tynecastle midweek. Marian Kello failed to shake the shoulder knock he took during Tuesday's game and Marius Zaliukas returned to the defence in place of Gary Glen and in turn Ismael Bouzid took up the role of striker.
The boys in maroon started the match well and found themselves one up inside the opening five minutes. Suso embarked on a lone run from the half way line which saw him weave in and out of the Celtic defence and then unleash a sublime shot low into Boruc's right hand corner. A great solo effort from the little Spaniard.
Celtic stepped it up a gear after going a goal down but Hearts responded well in defence. Celtic came closest through a Shaun Maloney free-kick from 30 yards out, which rattled off the junction of the bar.
The home side were throwing everything they had at Hearts and Balogh had to be on high alert to thwart the numerous efforts. Hearts suffered a blow when Marius Zaliukas had to be substituted after picking up and injury, Novikovas was brought on his place and Bouzid returned to the defence.
A clearance from Balogh was misjudged by Caldwell, allowing Driver free reign down the left. The winger then curled the ball round Boruc and as the ball trickled towards the goal Caldwell recovered just in time to clear the ball off the line. Hearts seemed to have weathered a Celtic storm and almost had a two goal half time lead.
After the break Hearts ascendency failed to get restarted and Celtic took over the reigns. The home side fired themselves level inside 10 minutes through former Hibs striker Chris Killen. Balogh had saved a long range effort from the Celtic man but Maloney's follow up cross was met with vengeance from Killen who headed home from a few yards out after Suso was unable to clear.
Moments later Aiden McGeady looked to have sent Celtic ahead with a rocket fuelled shot towards goal which fortunately for Hearts rattled off the top of the bar. Maloney was substituted for Celtic which was testament to how well Craig Thomson had played in this match, again the youngster showing the nothing seems to faze him.
Hearts struggled to get a foothold in the match in the second half and the most notable effort was a good piece of link up play between Novikovas and Lee Wallace down the left hand side but Wallace just couldn't dig the ball out to have a shot on goal. Obua also came close with a long range effort which was hit with such power that it broke a panel on the digital advertising boards.
Celtic had a penalty claim waved away by Dougie McDonald in the last 10 minutes after Lee Wallace's challenge on Chris Killen. The Celtic players were admant it should have been a spot kick and were visibly aggrieved by the decision.
There was late drama after Lee Wallace; content to let the ball drift out of play for a goal kick, was totally flummoxed as the linesman awarded a corner. The resulting corner was whipped in and in a cruel twist of fate headed home by Glenn Loovens.
Celtic had chances to score long before this and Hearts also had chances to wrap the game up at 1-0. All in all for Hearts a devastating end to a game that they had put so much into.
Celtic: Boruc; Hinkel, Caldwell, Loovens, Fox; Maloney (McGinn 68), Brown, N'Guemo, McGeady; Killen, McDonald. Subs not used: Zaluska, McManus, Carey, Crosas, Robson, Caddis.
Hearts: Balogh; C Thomson, Zaliukas (Novikovas 37), Goncalves, Wallace; Suso, Stewart, Palazuelos, Driver (Black 82); Obua; Bouzid. Subs not used: MacDonald, Kucharski, Nade, J Thomson, J Stewart.
Referee: Dougie McDonald
Top man: Craig Thomson
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