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A Game of Two Halves. Celtic 3-2 Hearts 15/08/21

Discussion in 'TalkCeltic News' started by packybhoy, Aug 16, 2021.

By packybhoy on Aug 16, 2021 at 1:44 PM
  1. packybhoy Administrator Administrator Gold Member

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    SCOTTISH LEAGUE CUP.
    ROUND OF 16


    CELTIC 3-2 HEARTS

    Goals: Edouard (29) Welsh (34) Kyogo (63)

    Hearts: Boyce (57 Pen) McEneff (92)


    Sunday 15th August 2021

    K.O. 3pm


    Celtic Park. Glasgow


    Attendance:


    It definitely was a game of two halves in this enthralling cup clash at Celtic Park. The first half was like watching a Cat play with its prey before going for the kill. It will tease, it will roll, it will poke at the poor unsuspecting mouse to make it believe it is in a game. The cat however is only putting off the inevitable and will pounce when he has seen that the mouse has tired. Celtic went through this exact scenario until they went ahead on 28 minutes. The amount of times we could have been ahead before then is crazy. We are creating so much goal scoring opportunities under Postecoglou and it’s a dream to watch.

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    Celtic welcomed Hearts to Celtic Park for League Cup duty and this time would tell where we have improved since they beat us at Tynecastle In the first League game of the season. It took only 4 minutes to see the first goalmouth action when Edouard saw a crossed ball come to him and it was blocked by the sliding tackle timed perfectly from Hearts defender Stephen Kingsley. Two minutes later and it was a pass from Rogic to Kyogo who tried to place the ball into the far corner but was stopped by a good save by Gordon. The ball broke and Starfelt should have stabbed home but was crowded out by maroon shirts.


    Celtic were looking very lively and was a pleasure to watch the team move in unison with the play of the ball. All the work going unnoticed off the ball with players making space and stretching the opposition to tearing point. This was leaving Kyogo and Eddie with enough space to torment the Hearts back line. The opportunities were coming thick and fast. 9 minutes and Kyogo struck towards goal inside the opposition box but it was blocked by the heels of Tom Rogic. Next on 14 minutes Edouard broke free to run onto a pass but shot the ball just wide of the left post. A nice through ball from Forrest who found Rogic on 17 minutes and he bamboozled two Hearts defenders with his fancy footwork only to see his shot go wide. It was coming and Hearts were desperately holding out but they looked completely shell shocked.


    On 19 minutes Referee John Beaton flashed his first yellow and it was in Odsonne Edouard’s direction. He received it for simulation when he lazily dived in the box looking for a penalty. 21 minutes and an in-swinging corner from Turnbull was met by the head of the rising Welsh whose effort touched the crossbar on the way over. There was so much pressure on the Hearts goal as The Hoops teased and tormented with further efforts by Turnbull and Kyogo but Craig Gordon was earning his wages as the last man. The goal eventually arrived in 28 minutes after some brilliant play on the left wing and Kyogo fed the ball across to Forrest at the edge of the box and laid Edouard on to sweep the ball into the back of the net and 1-0 Celtic. It was a stunning goal to watch and more pleasing was the teamwork that went into it. The bending pass from Kyogo to find Forrest was delicious.

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    Celtic were in the Jambos faces and they were barely living with it. The Bhoys also pressed and harried and an amazing sight to see Anthony Ralston making a sliding tackle for a loose ball around 35 yards from the Hearts goal. Not an inch was given to Hearts and our very own Hart was left kicking his heels in the Celtic nets with very little to do other than the odd back pass. Gordon made a great save again on 31 minutes after nice footwork by Eddie put him through 1 on 1 but the goalie saved well. Just a minute later and Kyogo should have made it two but put it wide of the post. 33 minutes and the arrival of the second goal when a short corner by Kyogo to Eddie who lifted the ball beautifully into the far side of the box where Big Welsh rose to meet the ball with his head and steered it home 2-0.

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    The fans were rocking in the stands and the atmosphere and noise went up a few decibels every time there was a good effort or a brilliant passage of play. We definitely have missed a full stadium and Celtic Park is at its best when it crackles with electricity which also makes it a special arena for any footballers to grace. Kyogo was everywhere and is almost machine like in his playing style. The midfield threesome of McGregor, Rogic & Turnbull were controlling this game by the scruff of the neck from back to front and Forrest playing his part as support act between middle to front. The chances these Bhoys are creating at the minute is frightening and was a big credit to the Jambos back line and goalie to keep the score line at a respectable 2-0. I will even go as far to say that the play between Edouard and Kyogo was also excellent. Every player worked their socks off to give the home support great joy and expectation of trophies to come.


    Just seconds into the second half and it was Wee Kyogo again but shot wide of the right hand post. A minute later and Hearts midfielder Josh Ginnelly went down like a sack of spuds in the Celtic box looking for a free kick but Ref John Beaton was not having it but he also wasn’t in the mood to hand out a yellow card for simulation. There was no difference between Ginnelly’s dive to Edouards in the first half. I expect nothing better from this man in the middle as history dictates he treats us unfairly. On 48 minutes Craig Gordon got down to make a point blank save from an Eddie shot and put it out for a corner. From the incoming swinger Edouard headed but again he was thwarted by another Gordon point blank save. Only seconds later and Gordon made saves from Forrest and Rogic. Then some nice running by Ralston teed up Forrest whose shot was stopped again by Craig Gordon and the Rogic follow up was put past the post.

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    Although Celtic continued to dominate, Hearts had set up better to handle our direct play and came into the game themselves in the second half. Ginnelly’s introduction helped massively to allow Hearts the chance to get out of their own half and Joe Hart was a lot more involved in this half. On 56 minutes Starfelt cushioned the ball and as he was in mid swipe to clear the ball Liam Boyce came in from the side and was upended. Beaton had no problem pointing to the penalty spot. Liam Boyce tucked the ball away to his right while Hart went left. 2-1 but it was very flattering on the Edinburgh side.

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    Starfelt nearly came a cropper only a minute after the penalty when his slack pass was nearly kindly accepted by Boyce but Joe Hart came to clear and save the big Swedes bacon. Celtic broke away at the other end only for Rogic to fizz an effort over the bar. On 63 minutes Celtic made it three when a deft pass put Kyogo away into the box and he rifled the ball home over the top of Gordon and into the right side of the net. It was all the Man from Japan deserved for another breathtaking performance in which he plays at breakneck speed. It is this trait that will terrify defences the length of Scotland and hopefully Europe.

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    65 minutes and a bursting run by Kyogo on the left touchline sent over a pinpoint cross to Eddie at the far right post. He took a glance and hit it first time but Gordon got down well to block. 74 minutes saw the long awaited introduction of James McCarthy to replace Tom Rogic and Adam Montgomery on for Kyogo. Both players had a tremendous game and deserved their rest. Montgomery hit the side netting in 79 minutes and then Calum McGregor placed a curling shot only to see Gordon get across for the save. 87 minutes and another double substitution with Edouard off for Ajeti and Turnbull off for Soro.


    The game seemed to be petering out and with so many changes Celtic were looking slightly jaded after a high tempo and fast pressing the whole game. It will come as a valuable lesson to remember that you only stop when the game stops. Big Ange knows this and now the players know this because they had already stopped when Hearts stepped up to score a second. A ball in from the left saw substitute McEnee strike past Hart with defenders either side of the lad. It was the last action of the match.

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    The 3-2 scoreline was a far off cry from the reality of the game that played out. Celtic were always going to win today and overall the possession and craft were majorly Celtic’s. I believe Celtic are due to give someone a proper hiding when things actually click and the current delicious football that is being served up is making the fans crave for more. Man of the Match today was Tom Rogic who played a silky passing game and seems to be rejuvenated under Ange. Although Craig Gordon could have been a shout for MOTM and the most used phrase by commentary was ‘another save by Gordon.’ Next up is a decent draw at home to Raith Rovers in the League Cup (22/08/21) and hopefully see a few fresh faces into the club between now and then.

    Line Ups:

    CELTIC: Hart, Ralston, Welsh, Starfelt, Taylor, Rogic, McGregor, Turnbull, Forrest, Edouard, Kyogo. Subs. Bitton, Griffiths, Ajeti, Soro, McCarthy, Uhoghide, Bain, Shaw, Montgomery.


    HEARTS: Gordon, Smith, Souttar, Halkett, Kingsley, Cochrane, Baningime, Haring, Halliday, Boyce, MacKay-Steven. Subs. Walker, McEneff, Stewart, Henderson, Smith, Ginnelly, Denholm.


    Referee: John Beaton

    Celtic Formation: 4-3-3

    Celtic Possession: 72%

    Shots: 36

    Shots on target: 11

    Assists: Forrest (29) Edouard (34) Rogic (63)


    By: Packybhoy
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2021
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