Hearts defeat ten man Hibs

Colleen Paterson
Hibs 0, Hearts 2 Scorers: Hibs: Hearts: Nade (38), Glen (90)
A FIRST-HALF strike from Christian Nade and another in injury time from Gary Glen sent Hearts through to the next round of the Scottish Cup against ten-man Hibs at Easter Road.

Nade hit home from just eight yards out with 38 minutes of the first-half gone to give Hearts the advantage and they refused to relinquish their advantage.

Hibs had earlier been reduced to ten men when Steven Fletcher was shown a straight red card for a two-footed challenge on Christophe Berra.

Hearts made sure of the victory in the dying seconds when Christos Karipidis played young sub Glen through on goal, he rounded the keeper and slotted into the empty net.

Hibs had first sight of goal when a free-kick was floated into the box from the left and punched out by Hearts keeper Janos Balogh. The ball fell to the feet of Derek Riordan but unfortunately for the Easter Road striker, his shot cannoned off Ruben Palazuelos and away for a corner that came to nothing.

Hearts suddenly broke at the other end, Eggert Jonsson's clever chipped ball eventually finding its way to Deividas Cesnauskis after Rob Jones had failed to halt his progress. The Lithuanian played the ball to David Obua and ran into the box to take the return but his his effort was just inches wide of Yves Ma-Kalambay's right-hand post.

Hibs then claimed for a spot-kick but it looked as though referee Craig Thomson got it spot-on when he waved their shouts away. Christian Nade seemed to be fouled in the middle of the park, but Thomson allowed play to continue and when Sol Bamba played Steven Fletcher through, the Hibs striker went down as Balogh dived to save the ball. It seemed a perfectly-timed save and Thomson agreed.

Hibs were reduced to ten men though with just over half an hour gone when Steven Fletcher was shown a straight red card for a two-footed cvhallenge on Christophe Berra.

The striker had been played through by a cracking piece of vision from Stevenson but a poor touch lost Hibs possession and in his frustration – and an attempt to win the ball back – he charged in recklessley on Berra but all it earned him was an early bath and a suspension for next week's league game against St Mirren.

The visitors made the most of their numerical advantage when they took the lead just before the break – 465 minutes from their last goal.

The goal came when Ma-Kalambay allowed himself to be pulled out wide to chase a ball in from Lee Wallace but the big keeper was never getting there. Andrew Driver did though and cut the ball across the face of goal and Christian Nade, who himself had only scored one previous goal this season, was left with the task ofturning the ball into the net from just inside the six-yard box.

After that steback, Paatelainen made a change at the break, replacing Ma-Kalambay with new signing Grzegorz Szamotulski.

Hearts had the bul of the pressure after the restart, although failed to do too much that seriously tested the replacement keeper.

With 25 left and Hibs still trailing, Paatelainen made a double change, hooking Riordan and Johansson for Colin Nish and Alan O'Brien. As if Riordan's day hadn't been bad enough, the Hibs striker was booked as he left the field for making a rude gesture to the Hearts fans.

Hearts came close to a late second, only for Szamotulski to beat away a powerful effort on the angle from Driver with four minutes remaining.

However the former Dundee United keeper was left to pick the ball out of the back of the net three minutes into stoppage time when Karipidis played the ball into the path of sub Gary Glen and the youngster touched it round the keeper and slotted home into the empty net.

Hibs: Ma-Kalambay; Van Zanten, Hogg, Jones, Murray; Johansson (O'Brien 65), Bamba, *Stevenson, *Rankin; **Fletcher, *Riordan (Nish 65). Unused subs: Yantorno, Chisholm.

Hearts: Balogh; Jonsson, Zaliukas, Berra, Wallace; Cesnauskis, Karipidis, Palazuelos, Driver; Obua (Glen 81), Nade (Stewart 90). Unused subs: Kello, Thomson,

Taken from the Scotsman