Record transfer signings Arne Engels and Luke McCowan scored their first goals for Celtic and Celtic maintained their winning start after Hearts were controversially disallowed a penalty.
Belgian Engels, who completed his £11m move on deadline day, scored from the penalty spot in the second half after James Penrice was penalised for handball.
Hearts striker Lawrence Shankland’s header hit Liam Scales’ arm just before half-time but the penalty was overturned by VAR.
McCowan hit the post and went in just eight minutes after coming off the bench, while Adam Idah’s added-time goal was ruled out for offside.
Celtic have won five league games without conceding a goal for the first time since 1907, while Hearts are bottom of the Premiership with one point.
Celtic continue their perfect start
Engels made his debut off the bench against Rangers two days after joining from Augsburg and was selected ahead of Paulo Bernardo.
The midfielder came close to scoring twice in the first half, with a well-timed move into the box in the third minute that saw his shot go wide but hit the inside of the post after a superb flick from Kuhn.
Furuhashi Kyogo missed a golden opportunity with Gordon stuck in the air shortly after being slammed by the Japanese striker.
Referee Colin Stephen called for a penalty in the first half after Shankland’s header hit Scales’ arm from close range, but overturned the decision after reviewing the footage.
The decision emboldened Hearts, forcing Shankland to save a long-range shot from Kasper Schmeichel just before and after half-time.
Steven Naismith’s side survived a double crisis just before the break when Gordon denied Furuhashi and Penrice made a superb sliding block to deny Kuhn.
However, the left-back was penalised for the next intervention and captain Callum McGregor persuaded Hatate Reo to pass the ball to Engels, who then converted the penalty the other way for Gordon.
Luke McCowan celebrates scoring his first goal for Celtic
Celtic struggled to capitalise on their lead and Hearts came close to scoring through substitute Moussa Dramé from Blair Spittal’s cross, only for Schmeichel to make a good save.
McCowan put the home fans at ease with his first goal since his move from Dundee and Adam Idah tipped home a low cross from Greg Taylor only for the goal to be disallowed in added time after VAR ruled it out for offside.
Rogers: A special day
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Brendan Rodgers praised new signings Arne Engels and Luke McCowan for their performances in the 2-0 win over Hearts.
Celts manager Brendan Rodgers talk Sky Sports:
“All we can ask is that with so many of our players away on international duty, they perform when they come back.
“You don’t have to make it complicated, you just do what you’ve done so many times before, and I thought the guys did a really good job of that.”
“Hearts came in on defense and made it difficult for the opponent. They were also physically strong, so I’d like to give them some credit.”
“When it’s 0-0 for long periods it can give them confidence but we hung in there, got a penalty early in the second half and kept attacking from there.”
“It doesn’t matter who scores, but I thought Arne showed great composure with the penalty and it’s great that he got the feel for it.”
“All the new players will take time to adapt to how we play and how we work, but he showed today that he has the fitness and the ability to run.
“It was a really special moment for Luke, his first goal as a Celtic supporter and he got a standing ovation from the whole crowd. It was a special day.”
Naismith: Neither was a penalty!
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Hearts manager Steven Naismith has responded to the 2-0 defeat to Celtic and is focused on a crucial month ahead for the club, with his Edinburgh side languishing bottom of the Premiership.
heart Head Coach Stephen Naismith talk Sky Sports:
“I think it was those little details that made the difference.
“We’re playing against the best team in the country and we frustrated them with a solid first half and I thought we could have played better in the minutes we went forward.”
“In my opinion, based on the way it was called, I don’t know if it was a penalty and I don’t think their penalty in the second half was a penalty either.”
“From what we saw in the summer, I think it’s fair to say that in both cases it wasn’t a penalty because the players were close to the ball.”
“It’s a crucial moment in the game and Celtic are always a threat when the game is tight.”
“I’m not going to say anything controversial because the decision has already been made. They are in the same league and if one is given then both should be given and if not then they can’t be given.”
