Dunfermline 1 Hearts 0 (aet)

Hearts were out to avenge last month's 2-1 Premier League defeat - and in the first half they shook the Dunfermline defence to the core but couldn't get the ball in the net.

The Pars were lucky not be well down at half-time.

But they were a different side after the resumption and powered their way back into the game.

Just when the match looked like going to penalties, Hamish French's pass was edged on by Andy Smith and it found Moore in open space. With great composure he slotted the ball in the corner of the net from eight yards, giving goalkeeper Gilles Rousset no chance.

The biggest surprise for the home fans at the beginning of the game was the appearance of full-back Colin Miller on the bench, sent home early from World Cup duty for Canada, because of his booking in the match against Jamaica on Sunday that has put him out of next weekend's tie with El Salvador.

Before kick-off tonight, there was a minute's silence in memory of former Hearts star Brian Whittaker. the 40-year-old was killed in a car crash at the weekend.

When the match did get under way, both teams were quickly into their stride.

In the fourth minute, Dunfermline goalkeeper Ian Westwater was at full stretch to pull down a low blockbuster from Stefano Salvatori from 25 yards. Four minutes later after a fine run down the left, Neil McCann shaved the far upright with a powerful drive from 20 yards.

Hearts put the Pars under tremendous pressure, and the home defence looked anything but sure.

In one of their rare forays into the Hearts end of the field, goalkeeper Rousset safely dealt with a dangerous Andy Tod header.

A minute later, Westwater at the other end brought off a fabulous save to turn a McCann bullet past the post for a corner. After another couple of minutes, the heroic Westwater parried a Steve Fulton rocket over the top.

Following the break, Dunfermline looked a much more confident side.

After being booked for a foul on Fulton, Stewart Petrie missed a golden opportunity to put the home side ahead when Dave Bingham teed the ball up for him 16 yards out but he skied his shot over the Hearts bar.

From then on until the end of the second half both sides missed a number of chances, and in the 68th minute Bingham was substituted by Ivo Den Bieman in the 78th minute - but still neither side could get the ball in the net.

At the start of extra-time, Steve Adam missed yet another Hearts chance, mis-kicking a McCann pass.

Dunfermline then brought on the remaining subs Mark Millar and Miller for Petrie and Curran.

There followed a number of bookings as tired legs began to let the players down, and in the second period of extra-time Hearts brought on John Robertson for his 700th appearance for the club. But even his magic couldn't find the net, and it was left to Moore to finally break the deadlock.

Home manager Bert Paton was full of praise for his team, who he said can now go all the way in the cup this season.

"Dunfermline were fantastic. It was a real battle, and there was very little difference between the two teams. After a performance like that I feel our name is on the cup," he said.

Hearts manager Jim Jefferies, meanwhile, put his side's defeat down to the outstanding display by Westwater.

"Dunfermline can thank their keeper Ian Westwater for getting them into the semi finals," he insisted.

Teams

Dunfermline: Westwater, Shields, Fleming, Tod, Barnett, Curran (Miller 102), Moore, Bingham (Den Bieman 78), Smith, French, Petrie (Millar 102).

Booked: Curran, Smith, Petrie.

Goals: Moore 114.

Hearts: Rousset, McManus (Flogel 115), Pointon, Weir, Salvatori (Robertson 111), Ritchie, McCann, Fulton (Locke 115), Hamilton, Cameron, Adam.

Booked: McManus, Ritchie.

After Extra Time

Att: 11,060

Ref: M McCurry (Glasgow).


Taken from sportinglife.com