Hearts Laugh Off Celtic's Downfall After Victory
September 2, 2026 ·
Hearts managed to advance to the Conference League after winning on penalties against Rapid Vienna. Meanwhile, Celtic endured a miserable moment after leading by four goals but losing in the Champions League play-offs.
Hearts Laugh Off Celtic's Fall After Victory
According to Sports.
Background
Hearts, who had just secured a place in the Conference League, showed incredible resilience by going down to ten men and managed to turn the match around. This victory also symbolized their comeback after losing the Premiership title to Celtic, and gave fans new hope for the upcoming season.
Why this is important
Hearts' dramatic win over Rapid Vienna not only confirmed their place in the Conference League, but also provided positive momentum ahead of the new season. Meanwhile, Celtic's painful defeat in the Champions League showed their vulnerability, even though they will still compete in the Europa League. This provides an interesting glimpse into the rivalry between these two Scottish clubs, especially after Hearts missed out on the Premiership title at the end of last season.
Main Points
- Hearts Laugh at Celtic's Downfall After Victory.
- Hearts managed to advance to the Conference League after winning on penalties against Rapid Vienna.
- Hearts mock Celtic collapse after dramatic Conference League play-off victory - Yahoo Sports.
Hearts were quick to laugh at Celtic's European woes after beating Rapid Vienna on penalties, booking a place in this season's Conference League. The win comes after Celtic suffered a dramatic collapse against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-offs, where they surrendered a four-goal lead in the match and ultimately lost in extra time.
Previously, Hearts, who had to play with ten men because of Tomas Magnusson's red card, managed to fight back against Rapid at the opponent's headquarters. Celtic previously managed to snatch the Premiership title from Hearts on the final day of last season, and although Celtic will still progress to the Europa League, Hearts proudly revealed on social media: "Winning the play-offs in Austria is not for everyone..."
Hearts drew 2-2 with Rapid at Tynecastle last week. Their hopes of continuing their European campaign looked slim after Magnusson was sent off when they fell behind to Ercan Kara's first goal. However, Landry Kabore managed to equalize and force the match into extra time. Calvin Miller then scored to put Hearts ahead in the 100th minute, but Rapid forced another penalty shootout with Nenad Cvetkovic's goal making it 4-4 on aggregate.
Hearts goalkeeper, Beau Reus, put in a brilliant performance by making two saves in the penalty shootout, so that Hearts managed to qualify for the Conference League for the third time in the last five seasons. On the other hand, Celtic, led by captain Callum McGregor, admitted that there were no excuses for their failure after their Champions League play-off defeat. McGregor opened the scoring with an 18-yard goal as his side led 4-0 on aggregate against LASK in the 21st minute, but they suffered a 5-1 defeat after extra time.
This defeat resulted in Celtic being eliminated from the Europa League and had a significant financial impact, estimated to cost the club at least £20 million. McGregor said, "We got what we deserved. We looked so passive all night. We actually looked afraid to win the game, and when you're 3-0 up, it's a psychological problem. Actually, I didn't feel we played well in the first leg either. We scored at the right time and seemed to get lucky. When you're 3-0 up, you feel like you have a chance, but when you play like that, there's no reason to defend."
In the future, both Hearts and Celtic will face new challenges in their respective European competitions. Hearts look ahead with optimism to the Conference League, while Celtic must quickly recover from this slump to pursue success in the Europa League.
What happened next
With their success, Hearts will now prepare to take on the challenge of the Conference League, where they hope to continue their good form. Meanwhile, Celtic need to quickly recover from this disappointing defeat and focus on the Europa League to maintain their hopes of winning trophies in European competitions. The upcoming match will be key for both teams in determining the direction of their season.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Hearts vs Celtic match?
Hearts win against Rapid Vienna in the Conference League play-offs.
What impact will the result of this match have on Celtic's position in the table?
Celtic suffered a slump after losing in the Champions League play-offs, but they will progress to the Europa League.
Which player received a red card in the Hearts match?
Hearts' Tomas Magnusson saw a red card.
What was the final result of Hearts' match against Rapid Vienna?
The match ended in a 4-4 draw on aggregate, and Hearts won on penalties.
When is Hearts' next match in the Conference League?
Information about Hearts' next match in the Conference League has not been mentioned in the article.