Hearts 1 Dundee 1

Spaniard Juanjo kept Hearts' Scottish Cup dream alive with an 81st minute equaliser to earn them a replay against Premier League rivals Dundee.

Juan Sara had given the visitors a first half lead but Hearts captain Colin Cameron was guilty of missing a penalty.

The all-SPL clash at Tynecastle had an unusual 2.30pm start due to the Scotland and Wales Six Nations Rugby international at Murrayfield.

Ironically the game really only took off on the half-hour as the clock struck three.

In the early stages the home side forced a number of corners with Dundee centre-half Steven Tweed doing well to out-jump Steven Pressley in the goalmouth.

Dundee's Barry Smith was caught in possession by Stephane Adam in a dangerous position however Dens goalkeeper Marco Roccati sensed the danger and cleared quickly.

Robert Tomaschek laid the ball off to Cameron whose shot from 20 yards went just over the top.

A fairly innocent moment in the 21st minute nearly led to on-field chaos.

Beto Carranza fell awkwardly after a challenge for the ball but instead of playing the ball out, Hearts played on.

They made a number of passes enraging the Dundee fans before the visitors eventually booted the ball out.

Both sets of players became involved in repeated arguments, especially Juanjo and Dundee defender Marcello Marrocco.

Match official Hugh Dallas did very well to take the heat out of a potentially explosive situation by speaking to the two players involved although he later booked Gavin Rae for a late challenge on Gary McSwegan.

On the half-hour Dundee's Carranza sent over a curling free-kick from the left which Caniggia touched on for Sara and the Argentine striker fired home easily from close range.

Within 90 seconds Hearts were awarded a perfect opportunity to get back level after Chris Coyne fouled McSwegan in the box.

Cameron hit a reasonably good kick but his effort was well saved by the Dundee keeper.

Roccati plunged down to his left to save and although Adam got to the rebound his shot was charged down.

Hearts started the second half very much on the offensive and they forced a number of corners with Cameron having a 20-yard effort charged down.

In the 57th minute, the home side subbed McSwegan for Gary Wales who was playing his first game for ten months as a result of long-term injury before Cameron was booked for an over zealous challenge on Georgi Nemsadze.

Nemsadze took the kicks himself and his perfect cross was sent just wide by Rae's towering header.

Hearts were still driving forward although Dundee were defending well and an equaliser was becoming increasingly unlikely.

Dundee were very dangerous on the break and on 72 minutes Caniggia sent over a good cross which Austin McCann did well to head clear.

The unlucky Wales pulled his hamstring just eight minutes after coming on and was replaced by Grant Murray.

Caniggia broke away on the left before beating three defenders and getting to the by-line but the Hearts defence did just enough to clear their lines.

Again the Argentine superstar caused havoc setting up Sara whose power drive cannoned off Thomas Flogel to safety.

But, with just nine minutes left, Hearts grabbed themselves an equaliser from an Adam cross from the right allowed Juanjo to coolly place his shot past the Dundee keeper.

Teams:

Hearts: Niemi, Flogel, Pressley, Severin, McCann, Juanjo, Tomaschek (McAnespie 65), Cameron, Boyack, Adam, McSwegan (Wales 57), Wales (Murray 73).

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Makel.

Booked: Cameron.

Goals: Juanjo 81.

Dundee: Roccati, Smith, Coyne, Tweed, Marrocco, Artero, Nemsadze, Rae, Carranza, Sara (Milne 87), Caniggia.

Subs Not Used: Langfield, Del Rio, Yates, Falconer.

Booked: Rae.

Goals: Sara 30.

Att: 9,970

Ref: H Dallas (Scotland).


Taken from sportinglife.com