Hearts 0-2 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou's side seal back-to-back titles
- Published
Celtic's players and supporters savour clinching another Scottish Premiership title
Celtic clinched their second successive Scottish Premiership title under Ange Postecoglou as Kyogo Furuhashi's 30th goal of the season helped overcome stubborn 10-man Hearts at Tynecastle.
The visitors were out of sorts and second best until the stroke of half-time when Alex Cochrane's yellow card for a foul on Daizen Maeda was upgraded to red following Video Assistant Referee intervention.
Kyogo made the breakthrough and sparked jubilation among the away support with his 50th Celtic goal before substitute Oh Hyeon-gyu steered in a second to ensure the club's 11th title in 12 years.
It is a 53rd league crown overall for Celtic and they can complete a fifth treble in seven seasons with victory over second-tier Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish Cup final on 3 June.
While fourth-place Hearts were incensed by Cochrane's controversial dismissal, Celtic lapped up the celebrations of a title triumph that comes with four games to spare and has been a formality for weeks if not months.
On the weekend of the king's coronation, Celtic were unable to deliver a majestic performance but got the job done at a venue where Postecoglou's league tenure began with a 2-1 defeat two years ago. His side have come a long way since then.
Hearts had plenty on the line in this one, too - third place guarantees European group-stage football and a £3m bounty - but their impressive first-half display culminated in a hugely controversial turning point.
Maeda latched on to Anthony Ralston's pass over the top and was clipped by Cochrane a few yards outside the corner of the penalty box, with Kye Rowles in the vicinity as he raced back to cover.
Nick Walsh initially flashed the yellow card, only to upgrade it to red after being advised by VAR official Willie Collum to take a second look.
Home fans erupted in fury and Celtic almost rubbed salt in their wounds from the resultant free-kick as Carl Starfelt stabbed in, but Ralston was offside in providing the knockdown.
As derision rained down at the officials, Celtic winger Jota tried to keep the ball in play on the flank and sent Hearts manager Steven Naismith flying. Postecoglou saw the funny side as he jokingly signalled for VAR.
Hearts had been the better side before the interval, knocking Celtic off their stride with a high-pressing and aggressive approach. Rowles rattled a skidding shot inches wide, and Lawrence Shankland had an early header tipped over before being flagged offside.
They failed to test Hart, though, and their task was turned on its head. Celtic emerged after the break looking to make their numerical advantage count, with Reo Hatate looping a volley just over the angle of post and bar.
Still, Celtic had not mustered a shot on target until the 67th minute when Callum McGregor picked out the run of Hatate, who squared for Kyogo to force the ball past Zander Clark for a landmark goal.
Kyogo picked up a knock in the process and soon departed. His replacement, Oh, capped the victory by steering the second from fellow sub Aaron Mooy's delivery to make it four domestic trophies out of five so far for Postecoglou.
Player of the match - Kyogo Furuhashi
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Celtic's rejigged defence looked ill at ease for much of the first half as Hearts swarmed at them and forced mistakes.
The red card was the undoubted turning point and while never hitting their own high standards, Celtic wore down a Hearts side who were galvanised by a sense of injustice.
In reality, the hard work had already been done. Celtic have been imperious this season, with their sole domestic defeat coming against St Mirren in September. In fact, having lost three of his opening six Premiership games as Celtic manager, Postecoglou has lost just one in the league since.
His side are now just one goal shy of matching the league haul of 106 achieved by Brendan Rodgers' Invincibles in 2016-17. With four games remaining, that landmark will surely tumble. Winning all those matches would also set a new points record, eclipsing the Invincibles' mark of 106 by one.
As for Hearts, this defeat will sting, primarily because Naismith's side more than matched the visitors before Cochrane's dismissal.
Still, Aberdeen's defeat at Rangers means the Tynecastle men have not lost ground in the fight for third place. Hearts' performance will enhance their belief the five-point gap is not insurmountable, especially with Aberdeen coming to Tynecastle in a fortnight.
What they said
Celtic manager Ange Postecoglou: "I'm just really proud of this group of players and staff. They've maintained an absolutely ridiculous standard this year. They are relentless in their approach.
"Having success last year, you always worry as a manager - are they going to be as hungry? From the first day, they haven't let up and it's a credit to every single one of them."
Hearts interim manager Steven Naismth: "Frustration is the overriding feeling. We put so much into it. Most of the first half was played in the Celtic half. We had the better chances
"One moment has set us back but we dealt with it well. The game then falls into that first goal category and unfortunately for us it was Celtic who got it."
What's next?
Hearts make a Premiership trip to St Mirren on Saturday (15:00 BST) and Celtic face Rangers in the final Old Firm derby of the season at Ibrox a few hours earlier (12:30).