Scottish Cup Semi-Final
Hearts of Midlothian 2-1 Hibernian
Saturday, 16 April 2022, kick off 12:15pm
Hampden Park

Hearts returned to the Scottish Cup Final for the second time in three seasons as they defeated Edinburgh rivals Hibernian 2-1 in the first Semi-Final at Hampden Park.

All goals came in an action-packed seven minute period, as Hearts took the lead through stunning finishes from Ellis Simms and Stephen Kingsley, before Chris Cadden hit back for Hibs.

Craig Gordon continued his stellar form this season with another outstanding save to deny Ryan Porteous in the second half, before Hibs were reduced to ten men when Joe Newell was sent off for a second yellow card for a foul on Peter Haring.

Scorers

Heart of Midlothian: Simms (16), Kingsley (21)

Hibernian: Cadden (22)

As it happened

Hearts manager Robbie Neilson named an unchanged line up following last weekend’s 3-1 victory over their rivals in the league, while Hibs boss Shaun Maloney opted for five changes as he looked for a reaction to that defeat. Porteous returned from suspension, with Stephen McGinn joining him in the backline and Lewis Stevenson, Ewan Henderson and James Scott all coming in from the start.

After a relatively quiet opening quarter, the game was completely transformed in an instant, with Hearts grabbing the first goal in the 16th minute. After winning the ball high up the park, Barrie McKay played an inch-perfect first time through ball into Simms, who sent a thunderous right footed effort into the corner from just outside the box, leaving Hibs goalkeeper Matt Macey with no chance.

And it was soon 2-0 to the Gorgie side, through another sublime strike. Kingsley played a one-two with Liam Boyce from a central free-kick before curling home a delicious finish into the top left hand corner of the goal.

Shaun Maloney needed a reaction from his side and he got one within a minute of the restart as Hearts’ celebrations were cut short. Stevenson won the ball back in the Hearts box and drove along the byline before cutting back for Chris Cadden, who found the net with a fine left-foot finish after his initial shot had been blocked.

After that crazy seven minute period, the game settled down again as Hearts seemed happy to let Hibs come on to them, but the Easter Road side were unable to create anything as the first half drew towards a close.

Then, right on the stroke of half time, it was Hearts who should have extended their lead as Boyce burst through on goal but his left-footed shot from an angle drifted narrowly wide of the post.

After losing Andy Halliday to injury in the opening period, Hearts suffered a major setback early in the second half as defender Craig Halkett was stretchered off after a lengthy delay for treatment to an injury, with Taylor Moore coming on to replace him.

And Hibs were inches away from a leveller moments after. Gordon, who has been one of the stand-out players in Scotland this season, produced another stunning moment, as he tipped Porteous’ close-range header onto the post after the defender had been found unmarked by a Henderson corner.

Hibs had the momentum but their task was made a lot more difficult in the 64th minute when Joe Newell, who was already on a booking for a foul on McKay, caught Peter Haring with a late challenge and received a second yellow card from referee John Beaton.

Despite being a man down, Maloney’s men kept pushing, with substitute Josh Campbell firing over and Henderson seeing his low free kick kept out by Gordon.

Hearts’ supporters were then left unhappy when Campbell was only shown a yellow for a late tackle on Barrie McKay as he was breaking away.

Simms nearly added a second as his left-footed shot was well saved by Macey, before Elias Melkersen headed wide when well found by Cadden.

Hearts had to endure eight minutes of added time and Gordon was called upon once again to deny Sylvester Jasper from a free-kick, but Neilson’s side held on to seal another Scottish Cup Final appearance.

Line-ups

Hearts: Gordon, Atkinson, Sibbick, Halkett (Moore 50), Kingsley (Devlin 87), Cochrane, Haring, Halliday (McEneff 39), Boyce, McKay, Simms

Substitutes: Woodburn, Mackay-Steven, Stewart, Ginnelly

Hibernian: Macey, Cadden, McGinn (Campbell 74), Porteous, Hanlon, Clarke, Stevenson (Melkersen 74), Doyle-Hayes, Newell, Henderson (Mueller 90), Scott (Jasper 90)

Substitutes: Doig, Dabrowski, Allan, Hauge, Mitchell, Bushiri