Celtic thrash Hearts with seven‑goal spectacle
Celtic turned a home match against Hearts into a demolition, netting seven goals while the visitors could only muster a single reply. The defeat echoed the swift knockout of a heavyweight boxer, as Celtic’s precision and speed left Hearts reeling from the first whistle.
Hearts entered the game with a poor away record – just two wins in eleven league matches over the past two seasons, both against Hibernian – and seemed to believe they could match Celtic on the pitch. Their confidence quickly unraveled when they conceded two set‑piece goals inside the opening ten minutes. The early setbacks set the tone for a night that would become a lesson in the dangers of over‑committing.
Manager Martin O’Neill, eager for a win after recent setbacks, watched his side execute a flawless game plan. The Celtic players – Benjamin Nygren, Callum Osmand, Camilo Duran and Haissem Hassan – combined speed with clinical finishing. The first two goals came from Liam Scales’ near‑post header off a corner and a close‑range finish by Kieran Tierney after a brief scramble. Dane Murray then out‑muscled Claudio Braga, feeding Nygren for the third strike.
Hearts tried to respond, dominating several statistical categories: they recorded more shots (20 to Celtic’s 18), more shots inside the box (16 to 13), higher possession (52 % to 48 %), more crosses (16 to 10), more duels won (51 % to 49 %), and completed more passes in the opponent’s half (244 to 202) as well as a higher overall pass accuracy (458 to 423). Yet their ball use was often careless, with many passes finding space that Celtic promptly reclaimed and turned into scoring chances.
Midway through the first half, Hearts showed a brief spark when Josh McPake challenged Celtic defender Colby Donovan twice, only to be outplayed on both occasions. The momentary lift in morale vanished quickly as Sabri Guendouz turned the ball over, allowing Duran and Osmand to combine for the fourth goal. A mis‑communication involving Jamie McCart added a fifth, while Osmand and Duran continued to exploit the gaps.
By the time the score read 5‑1, Hearts supporters were already leaving the stadium, aware that any further goals would only deepen the humiliation. Mika Baur then slalomed past a listless McPake and Malachi Fagan‑Walcott to add a sixth, assisted by Stephen Kingsley and a flailing McCart. The seventh came as Celtic’s relentless pressure finally broke any remaining resistance.
O’Neill, visibly relieved, described the result as “elated, delighted, relieved.” Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken, whose side’s performance he later called “not acceptable,” faced a shattered squad and a dwindling chance of staying in the title race. The match left a stark reminder that ambition without defensive solidity can quickly turn into a costly lesson.