Hearts 3-4 Celtic: Ange Postecoglou’s men come out on top in seven-goal thriller

VAR, VAR glorious VAR… Only the blissful fools could have expected Scottish football to enjoy a quiet introduction to video technology.

Hearts v Celtic has always been a highly charged match schedule. With remote assistance, it became the football equivalent of one of those exploding head emojis you send when a text message doesn’t cut the mustard.

After a relatively trouble-free debut at Easter Road on Friday night, the New Protocols ripped through town and exploded to fuel a seven-goal thriller in which Hearts substitute Lawrence Shankland claimed a hat-trick but had little hope of making the usual to make headlines.

In the end, this was another triumph for the guts and tenacity of Ange Postecoglou’s team, the depth and reach of the champions’ substitution bench finally struck a resounding balance in this wild game of a match.

During his 500 days on the job, Postecoglou has made it a point to make short work of questions about umpires’ decisions and that stance has been devastatingly extended to his responses to pre-match probing around VAR.

But after seeing his side, he denied what seemed a plausible penalty claim just before half-time – just one of a string of game-breaking incidents – even he seemed consumed by the whining as he roared in mock laughter.

You suspect the moment was catnip for his Hearts counterpart Robbie Neilson, who tends to enjoy a little official bait. The cynic might say anything the story distracts from Hearts’ wretched form is useful fodder for Tynecastle’s head coach, but this was a vastly improved performance from a team powered by the non-stop running of Postecoglou’s compatriot Cammy Devlin in midfield.

It must also be said that Neilson has faced an irregularly crippling injury list this season.

The defensive division has been hardest hit and in response to the quick, all-round threat from Celtic’s front three, he went with a solid back four from which the fullbacks rarely ventured forward.

Lawrence Shankland (left) celebrates scoring the equalizing goal for Hearts after acting as sub

Yet there was also a mechanism to attack from a five-man midfield.

Out wide, Josh Ginnelly and Barrie McKay joined central Robert Snodgrass to support Stephen Humphrys on the attack.

Throughout a storied career, Snodgrass has never relied on pace or running ability, but supported by a charged set of teammates led by the energetic Devlin, he was central to a quick start from the home team that seemed determined to rival Celtic. intensity levels.

Relentless rain left a zip on the playing surface, a factor that helped Michael Smith’s low cross on the way to the boot of Barrie McKay, who tested Joe Hart with a sizzling low shot.

And then a tenacious pressure play from Devlin helped Celtic pin back, Snodgrass landed on possession on the edge of the penalty area and slalomed forward without finding the right balance to clip his finish over the advancing goalkeeper.

The risk behind the home side’s strategy was immediately exposed when Celtic reacted with deadly effect.

Reo Hatate, Aaron Mooy and James Forrest shifted the ball forward before the Japanese pulled one of his signature reverse passes and Tony Ralston dug into the penalty area on the bottom round.

The fullback’s momentum was too much for Alex Cochrane, the cross too heavy for Orestis Kiomourtzoglou to block adequately. Instead, the ball kicked off the sliding Greek’s toe, away from Craig Gordon’s grip and into Forrest’s lane heading home from close range.

We then had the first meaningful VAR interlude of the day, although its application was up for debate.

The VAR was a constant throughout the match as it was only being used for the second time in Scotland

A Celtic free kick was thrown into the penalty area by Aaron Mooy and headed in by the diving Ralston on the back post. Referee Nick Walsh blew for a foul before the ball reached Ralston and yet the decision had to be reconsidered.

Replays showed two separate fights involving Giorgos Giakoumakis, a light tug on Snodgrass’s shirt and an arm around Kiomourtzoglou’s shoulder enough to see Steven McLean endorse Walsh’s call down the line.

Hearts may have folded after a Rangers opener a few weeks earlier, but this was a more robust performance. Their prospects seemed to plummet as the vivacious Humphrys succumbed to injury, but his replacement was in the spot for the equalizing goal after the VAR’s initial ensuing involvement.

Once again it was Devlin’s hunger that forced the matter, the midfielder bursting into the penalty area and forcing Cameron Carter-Vickers into evasive action.

Unsure if the defender had touched the ball before colliding with the Australian, this Walsh let the game – and the technology – take its course.

After the ball eventually went dead at the end of Celtic’s counterattack, he waited for further instructions and was begged to go to the monitor where he saw enough to suggest a penalty should have been awarded.

Fans in Scotland will have to get used to seeing this on the big screens as VAR makes its mark

Fresh in mind and body, Shankland tucked the ball away.

That might have been enough VAR discussion for one game, let alone 45 minutes, but there was another big – and more controversial – call to halftime.

Understandably, Walsh sought a second opinion after Smith’s arm blocked Forrest’s slick touch.

Smith’s sheepish move to bring his arms back to his sides suggested guilt, but McLean’s verdict came quickly – Walsh’s decision not to award was not a clear or obvious mistake.

The interlude brought that rare expression of emotion from Postecoglou, whose disbelief was great.

More often than not, the sound of the quiet whistle takes the heat out of a feverish encounter.

Not this time.

Encouraged by their final punch, Hearts steamed into the second period and claimed a second period as Ginnelly forced Alexandro Bernabei on the back foot and dug out a low cross that sent Shankland home with a first finish.

Giakoumakis equalized for Celtic to make it 2-2 as he rose highest to go home to the visitors

The lead lasted eight minutes and within nine minutes they were behind again.

Celtic got back on track via Giakoumakis, who climbed high to take Mooy’s corner home and Celtic were back up front when Gordon Mooy’s shot spilled into Maeda’s path, raming in the rebound.

Still, more VAR drama came. Walsh’s decision to fine for Jenz’s trip on Devlin was in itself undisputed.

What followed simply would never have happened without the grading system. Shankland’s shot was saved by Hart and his fluffy rebound was landed by Ginnelly. But after communications from an industrial estate in Glasgow, it was decided to intervene again for infringement by a Hearts player.

Shankland did better on the second attempt.

The arrival of Postecoglou’s usual tranche of changes once again tipped the balance – and decisively – in Celtic’s favour.

Two substitutions combined for the winner, Liel Abada’s low cross that deflected in the path of Greg Taylor, who claimed a rare goal and started a visceral feast to match the mania of the day.

Shankland pushed his penalty past Joe Hart to complete his hat-trick and level Hearts

Greg Taylor celebrates after coming and scoring a late winner for Celtic away from home