Leaders Hearts fought back twice to earn a 2-2 draw with 10-man Celtic in a thrilling Scottish Premiership encounter.
It was billed as the biggest game of the season so far and it lived up to the hype as Benjamin Nygren curled home a free-kick to give the Hoops an early lead.
Stuart Findlay headed in an equaliser after missed chances from Alex Kyziridis, but Hyun-Jun Yang tapped in a brilliant ball from new signing Tomas Cvancara to restore Celtic’s lead.
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Celtic’s Auston Trusty was sent off after a VAR review
Hoops defender Auston Trusty was sent off following a VAR review for a last-ditch challenge before Claudio Braga smashed the ball in from another set-piece to level again for Hearts.
Rangers’ 3-0 win against Dundee means Hearts are now four points clear at the top with Celtic dropping to third, two points behind their Old Firm rivals.
Tynecastle thriller
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Benjamin Nygren’s stunning free-kick gives Celtic the lead at top of the table Hearts.
The visitors got off to the perfect start when Nygren curled a superb free-kick beyond the left hand of Gordon from 20 yards in the seventh minute. It was the first time the Parkhead side had scored direct from a free-kick since 2021.
Home manager Derek McInnes stormed towards the Celtic technical area, visibly angered by the nature of the celebrations from a member of the Hoops’ backroom staff.
Hearts responded well and Braga and Kyziridis had golden chances to equalise but were denied by Kasper Schmeichel as the Edinburgh side enjoyed the majority of the first-half pressure.
The hosts continued on the front foot after the break and equalised within three minutes of the restart when Findlay met Leonard’s corner at the back post and nodded down into the net.
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Hearts score from a corner as Stuart Findlay heads home to make it 1-1 against Celtic..
Hearts looked set to go ahead in the 54th minute when Kyziridis got himself free in the box but Liam Scales got back to make a brilliant goal-saving challenge.
Celtic had offered little as an attacking force since their early goal but served a reminder of their threat when Cvancara sent a looping header against the woodwork on the hour.
And the champions duly restored their lead two minutes later when Cvancara burst away down the left and rolled a tantalising delivery across the face of goal for the in-rushing Yang, who rammed home from a couple of yards.
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Yang Hyun-jun fires champions Celtic back in front at Hearts.
Moments after Kieran Tierney limped off injured, Celtic were reduced to 10 men for the second game running when Trusty was adjudged, following a VAR check, to have denied a goalscoring opportunity by fouling Pierre Landry Kabore as he tried to get on the end of a through ball.
Hearts made the extra man count in the 87th minute when Braga thumped home from eight yards after substitute Oisin McEntee had headed Harry Milne’s free-kick down to him.