Scottish Premiership
Sunday, May 7, 2023
Tynecastle Park, Edinburgh

HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN… 0

CELTIC… 2
(Kyogo 67, Oh 80)

Celtic have been crowned champions of Scotland once again as Ange Postecoglou’s side sealed back-to-back titles with a 2-0 victory over Hearts at Tynecastle.

The coronation of this exceptional season’s work was sealed in Edinburgh as the Hoops made sure they would be getting their hands on the trophy again through second-half goals from Kyogo and Hyeongyu Oh.

No one can question the achievements of this Celtic side and in securing the victory it puts this team beyond the 92 points achieved last season, but more importantly, it allowed the 1,400 Celtic supportes inside Tynecastle and the millions of ans around the world to celebrate once again.

The last time the sides met at Tynecastle, Celtic were the side that came flying out of the traps to take an early lead in the 3-0 Scottish Cup quarter-final victory, but on this afternoon it was the hosts that started the brighter.

Joe Hart, on his 100th appearance for Celtic, was made to work inside two minutes from a Lawrence Shankland header, although the assistant referee did flag for offside.

The Scotland striker then went close again for Hearts 10 minutes later. This time he did stay onside to get on the end of Alex Cochrane’s cross to steer a shot wide via a deflection.

The corner was awarded for Hearts and from it, the opening goal almost arrived, with defender Kye Rowles slashing a volley from the edge of the box, with the ball just grazing the outside of the left post on its way wide.

It was then Celtic’s turn to have an effort from distance on the 24th minute through Reo Hatate, but he couldn’t repeat his heroics from his first visit to Tynecastle in January 2022, as he sent a powerful shot from more than 25 yards whistling wide.

The talking point of the half came just two minutes before the interval when Hearts were reduced to 10 men.

A superb ball from Anthony Ralston sent Daizen Maeda free down the right and bearing down on goal, but he was upended outside the box by Alex Cochrane. A yellow card and free-kick were awarded. VAR reviewed the decision and the card was upgraded to red.

A man up, Celtic then thought they were a goal up. Five minutes after the free-kick was awarded, Matt O’Riley dinked the ball to the back post for Ralston to head across the goal to Carl Starfelt, who slid the ball into an empty net. However, the offside flag was raised against the right-back.

Celtic are the kings of Tynecastle as victory secures the title