Celtic stage miracle comeback

[Mac 10 †]

Celtic stage miracle comeback

Hearts: Goals: Jankauskas 6, Pressley 8.
Celtic: Goals: Pearson 55, McManus 87, 90.

Celtic staged an amazing late comeback to stretch their advantage over stunned Hearts to seven points at the top of the Bank of Scotland Premier League.

Gordon Strachan's side had been 2-0 down at Tynecastle but two goals in the closing minutes from Stephen McManus completed a turnaround which began with substitute Stephen Pearson's reply.

Edgaras Jankauskas's fifth-minute opener for the Jambos from close range was followed by Steven Pressley's back post header two minutes later from a Rudi Skacel corner. Pearson pulled a goal back after the break just three minutes are coming on for Stilian Petrov.

And after Hearts' Takis Fyssas was shown a straight red card for a challenge on Maloney, Hoops defender McManus scored a dramatic 88th-minute equaliser before notching the winner in the first minute of injury time.

Hearts took an early lead when Calum Elliot sent the unmarked Hartley scampering away down the left and when the Scottish international's cut-back came across the six-yard box, Jankauskas got a touch and the ball also struck Celtic's Ross Wallace on its way into the net.

Two minutes later there was more delight inside Tynecastle when the home side doubled their lead. A Skacel corner from the right reached the far post and skipper Pressley rose amongst a crowd of bodies to bullet a header in from close range.

The Glasgow giants looked to have been dealt another blow in the 52nd minute when Petrov pulled up and had to be replaced by Pearson, but the former Motherwell player's impact on the game was almost immediate and positive. Three minutes later Maloney raced down the left and cut the ball back, allowing Pearson the easiest of tasks to knock the ball in from close range.

In the 76th minute the temperature rose again after Jambos defender Fyssas was shown a straight red card by referee Iain Brines for a challenge on Maloney.

The league leaders turned the screw and in the 88th minute they eventually drew level. Nakamura's free-kick from wide on the right flew into the Hearts penalty area and McManus headed home from close range.

However, the drama was not yet over. In the first minute of injury time the Hoops scored an amazing late winner, McManus again on hand to knock the ball over the line following another Nakamura free-kick. The Edinburgh side were shattered along with, in all probability, their title hopes.