Scotland goalkeeper Craig Gordon was the hero with two penalty saves as in-form Hearts fought again to achieve the quarter-finals of the Scottish Cup with a 4-2 shootout victory over St Mirren on a tense night time at SMISA Stadium.
The Edinburgh aspect appeared on the right track to exit the competitors on Monday as they trailed to a first-half purpose from Mikael Mandron till Australian midfielder Calem Nieuwenhof, who had not performed since March 3 final 12 months on account of a hamstring downside, stepped off the bench within the 84th minute to equalise inside seconds of coming into the fray.
With the tie nonetheless deadlocked at 1-1 on the finish of extra-time, Neil Critchley’s resurgent aspect – unbeaten since Boxing Day – then secured their progress within the shootout as 42-year-old goalkeeper Gordon saved the Buddies’ first two kicks from Oisin Smyth and James Scott.
James Penrice sealed the Jambos’ victory after Gerald Taylor had seen his kick – Hearts’ fourth – saved by Zach Hemming.
Saints, who had misplaced 5 of their earlier seven matches, spurned a terrific likelihood within the fourth minute when Toyosi Olusanya lobbed the ball over the crossbar after latching on to goalkeeper Hemming’s lengthy kick-out.
The guests’ first try got here within the thirteenth minute when January signing Elton Kabangu – buoyed by 5 objectives in his earlier three outings – noticed his ferocious low strike pushed behind by Hemming.
The Buddies broke the impasse within the twenty second minute when Mandron stabbed residence from simply contained in the six-yard field after Mark O’Hara’s low curling shot from the angle of the realm was parried out by Gordon.
Hearts provided little in response for the rest of the primary half and had been booed off by their 1600 travelling supporters on the break.
Issues practically acquired worse for the the guests, with Olusanya and Killian Phillips each lacking good probabilities early within the second half.
The Tynecastle aspect then misplaced Lewis Neilson and Socceroos midfielder Cameron Devlin to accidents, with January signings Michael Steinwender and Sander Kartum coming into the fray to assist salvage the tie.
However it was one other substitute who ultimately acquired Hearts on stage phrases within the 84th minute when Nieuwenhof was completely positioned to drill residence from 10 yards out after Penrice’s try and get a shot away from James Wilson’s low cross broke into his path off Phillips.
It proved a pivotal second because the Jambos ultimately prevailed on the finish of an extended and gruelling encounter.
