Aberdeen 0 Hearts 1

By Ronnie Esplin, PA Sport

An inspired tactical move from Hearts manager Craig Levein carried the Edinburgh club past Aberdeen tonight to a CIS Cup semi-final against Rangers.

In an attempt to break the deadlock in what was a dire game, Levein sent tall defender Kevin McKenna up into the Jambos attack in the 62nd minute.

It took just three minutes for the Canadian international to sweep a half-volley winner into the roof of the net from the edge of the box.

The victory was barely deserved - but that will not bother the Tynecastle men who are through to their first semi-final since 1998.

The match began with some early excitement as both sets of players struggled to cope with tricky underfoot conditions.

In the sixth minute Hearts striker Gary Wales had to be back on his goalline to clear a Darren Mackie header away.

For the visitors, Scott Severin had a double strike following a Phil Stamp corner which nearly gave the Tynecastle men the breakthrough.

But Aberdeen goalkeeper Peter Kjaer parried Severin's close-range shot, and then Fergus Tiernan blocked the Hearts midfielder's volley from the rebound on the line.

On the half hour mark Hearts survived a penalty claim when defender Andy Webster appeared to foul Dons midfielder Derek Young just inside the box.

After the appeals had been waved away, a frustrated Young took immediate retribution on Severin and was booked for his troubles.

A minute later McKenna's through ball was dummied by Wales at the other end to give Andy Kirk a one-on-one chance against Kjaer. But the Hearts striker blasted his 12-yard shot straight at the goalkeeper.

The home side should have taken the lead just before the break when Roberto Bisconti burst clear after picking up a clever pass from Mackie only to blast his effort over the bar.

In persistent second-half rain, Dons substitute Scott Michie had a turn and shot from the edge of the box poked to safety on the hour mark by Steven Pressley.

Two minutes later Pressley's poor clearance fell to Young - but he was indebted to Webster for blocking the resulting shot.

McKenna then began his stint up front by blasting over the bar - from an offside position as it turned out - as he followed up a Severin shot which Kjaer had spilled.

The Canadian soon made amends with his goal from Neil Janczyk corner.

Aberdeen pounded the Tynecastle goal looking for an equaliser - and in the 74th minute an angled shot from Michie brought out a fine save from Roddy McKenzie.

But Hearts defended stoutly, and on the break McKenna's low shot from 12 yards was well blocked by Kjaer.

Teams:

Aberdeen Kjaer, Rutkiewicz, Anderson, McGuire, McAllister, Derek Young (Thornley 84), Deloumeaux, Bisconti (Darren Young 84), Tiernan, Mackie, Mike (Michie 55).

Subs Not Used: Preece, Billio.

Booked: Derek Young, Anderson.

Hearts McKenzie, Pressley, McKenna, Webster, Maybury, Stamp, Severin, Janczyk (MacFarlane 76), McMullan, Wales (Weir 62), Kirk (McCann 63).

Subs Not Used: Gordon, Dunn.

Booked: Kirk, Weir.

Goals: McKenna 66.

Att: 7,576

Ref: J Underhill (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com