Hearts striker Claudio Braga admitted he feared his opening goal against Celtic would be ruled out for offside, delaying his celebration. The Portuguese forward scored the vital first goal in Hearts' 2-1 win at Parkhead, ending a five-game drought in the process.
Braga, who played in front of 60,000 fans at Celtic Park, said he was unsure if he was onside after keeping the ball alive and firing past Kasper Schmeichel. He looked to the bench for confirmation before celebrating fully, learning that Celtic's Arne Engels was playing him on.
The 28-year-old described the atmosphere as the biggest he had ever experienced and called the goal a 'good achievement'. His strike was crucial for Hearts, who had lost form in recent weeks, winning just one of six games before this match.
Braga's 10th goal of the season helped Hearts re-establish a clear lead at the top of the Scottish Premiership, with Oisin McEntee's header sealing the win. Manager Derek McInnes had prepared a tactical plan to counter Celtic's new style under Wilfried Nancy.
Braga acknowledged the importance of ending his drought but stressed his role goes beyond scoring. He said the team must maintain focus to build on the victory at a difficult venue.
