Hearts stay clear of Celtic after Braga rescues late point against title rivals

Hearts were left ruing their failure to capitalize on the numerous scoring opportunities they created against title rivals Rangers at Tynecastle Park. Despite equalizing twice, facing 10 men for the final 21 minutes and creating several clear-cut openings, the league leaders ultimately fell short.

Martin O'Neill's tiring team struggled to overcome the visitors' resistance, with Celtic impressing sporadically but making their flashes of quality count through Benjamin Nygren's free-kick and the incisive break that created a second goal for Yang Hyun-jun. The hosts' vulnerability at set pieces was punished by Stuart Findlay and Cláudio Braga, who scored crucial goals to give Rangers a much-needed point.

Hearts manager Craig Levein expressed frustration with his team's inability to win the game, stating, "It's not the worst point when you come from behind twice but I still feel there was something more out there for us. The fact there's a disappointed dressing room in there illustrates how far we've come." Despite this setback, Levein remains optimistic about his team's chances, acknowledging that the title race is far from over.

The game was marked by controversy, including a yellow card given to Hearts striker Alexandros Kyziridis for a foul on Celtic center-back Auston Trusty, which was later reviewed and upgraded to a red card. The decision sparked debate among fans and pundits alike, but ultimately did not appear to have a significant impact on the outcome of the match.

Celtic manager Derek McInnes took a pragmatic approach, stating that his team's confidence remains high despite the loss, adding that they are well aware of the competition and must continue to improve. Hearts' counterpart Martin O'Neill expressed similar sentiments, acknowledging that the title race is far from over and that his team still have a tough task ahead.

The result has little impact on the overall title picture, with Rangers now within four points of Hearts. However, the draw has given Celtic a much-needed boost in their own quest for the championship, while also keeping alive hopes of catching up to the Scottish leaders.
 
I'm like 80% sure we're gonna see another intense league season this year 🤯! The stats are looking insane, Rangers are closing in fast on Hearts' lead and Celtic's recent win is a total game-changer 📈. Did you know that if Hearts keep dropping points at home like they did today, their goal difference will be all but sealed? 🤔 They've been really vulnerable at Tynecastle Park this season, conceding an average of 2.5 goals per game - that's crazy high! 😱

And have you seen the stats on Celtic's free kick specialist Benjamin Nygren? The guy's got some serious leg power 🔥. He's scored like 4 goals from dead-ball situations already this season, which is insane for a striker. 🤯 I'm loving the drama of this title chase so far, it's anyone's game! 🎲
 
OMG 🤯 I'm still reeling from that crazy game between Celtic and Hearts! The controversy over Alexandros Kyziridis' red card was SO telling - it's like, what's going on with referees in Scotland? Can't they make a fair call? 😩 And poor Craig Levein, being optimistic about his team's chances despite the setback is just so admirable... but we all know how hard it is to win when you're playing with 9 men 🔴

And let's be real, this draw has basically given Celtic a new lease on life in the title race! But, like, what does that say about Hearts' squad depth? Are they really prepared for the stretch run? 🤔 I'm all for Craig Levein being optimistic, but we need to see some concrete progress from his team if they want to stay ahead of Rangers.

The politics of sports are so fascinating... it's like, who do you trust more - Hearts or Celtic? Do you think Levein is being realistic about their title hopes or is he just trying to mask the fact that his team is struggling? 🤔
 
🤔 I'm a bit surprised by the red card decision on Alexandros Kyziridis, but I think it's good that the league is looking into reviews like that to make sure everything is fair 💡. Meanwhile, I'm loving how Hearts are keeping their cool despite this tough loss 🙏. Craig Levein's optimism about the title race is totally justified – those guys have been on a roll and can't seem to catch a break ⚽️. On Celtic's side, it's great to see them bouncing back from that loss with a crucial draw 👍. And can we talk about how unpredictable this league is? The competition is so tight right now 😬.
 
Man, that game was so intense 🤯. I mean, Hearts had like a million chances to win it but just couldn't capitalize. And that red card decision was wild 😂. I'm not surprised Celtic picked up a point though, they're a solid team. But Hearts are still on top and it's gonna be tough for them to hold onto that lead. Levein seems like a decent manager, he knows what he's doing 🤔. And yeah, the title race is heating up, can't wait to see how it all plays out 💥
 
This game was made for Rangers lol 😂 they just wore them down like it's nothing. And that red card? What a joke 😂 Alexandros should've been so lucky 🤦‍♂️. I'm not buying into Hearts' optimism, they need to sort out their defense ASAP 🚧. Celtic got lucky with those free kicks and the break, but they can't keep relying on that. They need to tighten up if they wanna make a serious push for the title 💪
 
I'm tellin' ya, this whole game was rigged 🤑👀. I mean, come on, 10 men for the last 21 minutes? That's just too suspicious. And don't even get me started on that yellow card turned red card 🔥💯. The refs must've had a hand in it, if you ask me. It's like they're trying to sway the outcome of the game, ya know? 🤔

And another thing, why did Celtic have to score two goals from set pieces? 🙄 That's just not natural, fam. It's like they were expecting something to go down that way. I'm not buying it 😒.

But, you know what? The real story here is Hearts' vulnerability at set pieces. They got exposed pretty badly 🤦‍♂️. Maybe they should work on their defense a bit more, 'cause right now, they're just a one-man show ⚫️.

Anyway, I'm still keepin' an eye on this title race 👀. It's gonna be a wild ride, that's for sure 🎢. Stay vigilant, folks! 😒
 
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