Hearts 1-2 Rangers

Nacho Novo put the visitors ahead just after the break with a low drive.

But Hearts equalised with the game almost over, Mark Burchill tapping the ball into the net after Paul Hartley's free kick came back off the post.

Then Rangers won a penalty for an alleged push on Sotirios Kyrgiakos, Dado Prso and Saul Mikoliunas were sent off and Ricksen scored the spot kick.

Ricksen provided an early scare for the Hearts fans as he curled in a free kick from the left that glanced off the far post, though Prso was penalised for offside in any case.

At the other end, Mikoliunas and Robbie Neilson went close before Deividas Cesnauskis passed up a terrific opportunity to give Hearts the lead.

Waterreus could only scoop a Mikoliunas cross into the path of Cesnauskis, but with the keeper struggling, the Lithuanian ballooned the ball well over the bar.

Midway through the first half, the Rangers keeper pulled off an outstanding save to keep the scores level, diving instinctively to his left to push a Mikoliunas drive onto the post.

Rangers started the second period brightly - Kyrgiakos heading wide when he should have hit the target - and on 49 minutes, they took the lead.

Prso played a perfectly-weighted ball into Novo's path and the Spaniard slid the ball past Gordon.

Hearts had a decent claim for a penalty waved away as Kyrgiakos put in a clumsy challenge on Andy Webster, while Thomas Buffel went down in the Hearts box after a slight push by Webster, but again referee Hugh Dallas allowed play to continue.

Gordon got down well to push a fierce Ricksen drive away and with 10 minutes remaining it required a superb piece of defending by Christophe Berra to prevent Prso's delicate lob crossing the line, the defender heading the ball clear.

Marvin Andrews then went close with a towering header but Hearts pulled level with just three minutes left.

Waterreus allowed a Paul Hartley free kick to come back off the post and substitute Burchill was on hand to tap the ball into the net.

Gordon had to acrobatically tip a Ricksen free kick over the bar almost immediately afterwards before the game exploded into controversy in injury time.

Miller and Kyrgiakos challenged for a high ball, with the Greek claiming he was pushed.

Dallas consulted his assistant, but in the meantime Prso clashed with Gordon and was shown a second yellow card.

The assistant indicated it was a penalty, prompting Mikoliunas to confront the linesman. Dallas showed him the red card before Ricksen kept his cool to send Gordon the wrong way.

Hearts: Gordon, Neilson, Webster, Berra, Wallace, Mikoliunas, MacFarlane (Kizys 77), Hartley, McAllister (Burchill 82), Miller, Cesnauskis (Hamill 84).

Subs Not Used: Moilanen, McKenna, Wyness, Simmons.

Sent Off: Mikoliunas (90).

Booked: Hartley.

Goal: Burchill 87.

Rangers: Waterreus, Ross, Andrews, Kyrgiakos, Ball, Buffel (Namouchi 70), Ricksen, Ferguson, Vignal, Prso, Novo.

Subs Not Used: McGregor, Burke, Steven Smith, Thompson, Malcolm, Alex Rae.

Sent Off: Prso (90).

Booked: Prso, Vignal.

Goals: Novo 49, Ricksen 90 pen.

Att: 13,842

Ref: H Dallas

Taken from the BBC