Celtic face Hearts this afternoon in Matchday 4 of the Cinch Premiership. The last time the sides met, in May 2022, Celtic won 4-1 to set up a title decider at Tannadice a few days later. The win all but mathematically sealed the return to the title to Paradise.
Hearts took a shock lead through Ellis Simms in the third minute. However, Celtic finally found their rhythm after a slow beginning to the first half. Two goals came before half-time through Maeda and Kyogo.
Jota took the ball around the halfway line drove forward and took a heavy touch to get by a few Hearts players before sliding the ball across the box for Maeda to finish with a low shot. Hearts moaned saying Kyogo interfered with play and no doubt Neilson will moan at full time but replays indicate that the officials were correct in assessing that the Japanese striker was not interfering.
It was 2-1 shortly thereafter when Jota headed the ball back across the face of goal after a searching cross for his attacking colleague Kyogo to direct his own effort on goal. Craig Gordon clawed to prevent the ball crossing the line but the officials adjudged the ball to have crossed the line – much to the dismay of the Hearts players. They crowded Don Robertson but it was a fruitless task, the referee knew that the ball had crossed the line.
Matt O’Riley made it 3-1 in the second half. Liel Abada found Jota with a cross field switch for the Portuguese winger to play in Greg Taylor, who stood up a delightful cross for O’Riley. The January recruit showed poise and took the ball down, curling a low left footed effort into the back of the net. Gordon could’ve maybe done better but it was a well worked goal from The Scottish Champions-in waiting.
It was 4-1 and the Champagne was on ice as Giorgos Giakoumakis netted brilliantly in the dying moments. James Forrest played the Greek striker in, who laid a shot for Reo Hatate. Craig Gordon got down well to save but Forrest, who continued his run, picked the ball up on the rebound. Instead of shooting, he cut the ball back at pace for Giakoumakis who thundered the ball into the net.
