© EuroFootball.com
In the "Premier" league of Scotland, there was a fierce battle for second place on Sunday - Edinburgh "Hearts" played a draw with Glasgow "Rangers" at home and maintained a six-point lead over their rivals in the league table. The only goal for the capital club was scored by the Lithuanian Edgaras Jankauskas.
Edinburgh 1 - 1 Glasgow 10` [1 - 0] Edgaras Jankauskas 65` [1 - 1] Thomas Buffel
For the important match, "Hearts" welcomed back Rudi Skacel and Edgaras Jankauskas from injuries, welcomed back team captain Steven Pressley from illness, and had Julien Brellier return from suspension. Deividas Cesnauskis once again started the match in the lineup, while Saulius Mikoliunas was on the bench.
In the leaders' clash against "Celtic" on New Year's Day, "Hearts" took the lead in the 9th minute of the game, and this time they scored a goal against "Rangers" around the same time - D.Cesnauskis tricked two opponents on the wing and sent a precise pass to free Paul Hartley in the penalty area, who passed it to E.Jankauskas for an easy finish.
After conceding a goal, "Rangers" gradually took control of the game, but the hosts played disciplined and did not allow the opponents to threaten their goal. One of the few chances the visitors had was when P.Lovenkrands managed to take the ball from J.Brellier in the penalty area and shot at goal, but the Edinburgh goalkeeper Craig Gordon was ready.
"Hearts" responded with a shot from D.Cesnauskis, which was saved by Ronald Waterreus, and at the end of the half Chris Burke dribbled past Andy Webster into the penalty area and passed to the far post, but Thomas Buffel couldn't reach the ball in time.
After the break, there continued to be a fierce battle in the middle of the field. In the 55th minute from a set piece, "Hearts" had to rely on C.Gordon as the ball bounced to T.Buffel, who shot from about 10 meters, but the Scottish national team goalkeeper demonstrated an amazing reaction and directed the ball out of bounds.
However, after ten more minutes, T.Buffel finally found the net. After a substitution, Kris Boyd won the ball near the penalty area, passed it to C.Burke, and after his pass, T.Buffel scored the equalizer from a long shot.
Later, C.Gordon pushed away a dangerous header from D.Prs, and "Hearts" responded with a header attempt from S.Pressley from a corner. The recovering "Rangers" launched an attack on the "Hearts" goal, but both C.Burke and T.Buffel's shots were off target. The match ended in a draw, so there were no changes in the battle for second place, and the winner of the Champions League ticket will be decided in the last seven games of the season.
