Dundee Utd 1-1 AET (4-5 pen) Heart of Midlothian

Ten man Hearts booked their place in the Semi Final of the Scottish Communities League Cup as they beat Dundee United 5-4 on penalties in a dramatic Quarter Final encounter at Tannadice on Wednesday night.

Callum Paterson handed the Jam Tarts the lead with a close range strike on 20 minutes, before Johnny Russell levelled the scores ten minutes before half time. Hearts held firm following Darren Barr's second half dismissal and sent the game to penalties, emerging victorious when Sean Dillon drilled his kick wide of goal.

McGlynn made one change to the side as Andy Driver dropped out in order to accommodate a two man Hearts attack as John Sutton returned to the starting line-up to partner Callum Paterson up front.

Arvydas Novikovas took less than a minute to fire a volley wide of Cierznak's post, clearly keen to continue his habit of grabbing wonder goals at Tannadice.

Hearts looked lively in the opening stages as the new formation appeared to invigorate their attacking play. The link-up between midfield and attack was evident when the Jambos went ahead on 20 minutes as Novikovas picked up a flick-on before feeding Ryan Stevenson left of the box.

The midfielder dispatched a teasing ball across the goalmouth, enabling Paterson to escape his marker on the near post to tap in his third goal of the season.

Hearts continued to push forward with Danny Grainger cutting in from the left of the box before forcing a fine save from the keeper at his near post, whilst Mehdi Taouil missed the upright by inches minutes later with a long distance drive after he picked up a miscued pass across the United backline.

Ten minutes before the interval, however, the Arabs levelled with their first notable attack of the game as Johnny Russell latched on to a deflected shot to stab the ball past Jamie Macdonald from seven yards out.

The home side looked far more composed after the interval as both Russell and Stuart Armstrong put Macdonald to the test with efforts from the edge of the box.

The Gorgie side then rattled the woodwork on the hour mark as Grainger's cross from the left was nodded into the path of Paterson by Sutton; the former unleashing an acrobatic volley which bounced off the left post and into the arms of a relieved Cierzniak.

Hearts were then dealt a hammer blow with less than fifteen minutes to go as a late tackle on Russell by Darren Barr saw the Gorgie side reduced to ten men, the former Falkirk man picking up his second yellow card of the evening.

Despite the numerical advantage, United were unable to breach the resolute Maroon backline and the tie duly went to extra time.

The Arabs introduced Rudi Skacel to the fray minutes into the first half, but it was the visitors who came within a whisker of taking the lead when Novikovas hit a well struck shot from the edge of the box which came agonisingly close to finding Cierzniak's bottom right corner.

As the game entered the second period of extra time, Hearts went close when Paterson got on the end of a Grainger free kick on the back post but his header lacked the necessary power to beat the keeper.

With five minutes remaining, Skacel nearly sent his old side out the cup when he connected with his famous left peg on eight yards. To the relief of Macdonald, however, his side footed effort somehow missed the target.

Shortly after, former Hibee John Rankin's 25 yards drive clipped Macdonald's left post as the home side put the Jambos under considerable pressure in the dying minutes.

McGlynn's men held on however, sending the tie to penalties. Grainger and Sutton both missed the first two spot kicks, but a miss from Gary Mackay-Steven and a Macdonald save to deny Rankin meant the scores were brought level. Zaliukas eventually put his side 5-4 up, before Sean Dillon sent the Maroon faithful wild as he swept his kick wide of goal.

Dundee Utd: Cierzniak, Dillon, Gunning, Watson; Armstrong, Rankin (Skacel 95), Flood, Ryan, Gardyne (Mackay-Steven 65); Russell, Daly (McLean 105). Subs not used: Banks, Millar.

Hearts: Macdonald; R.McGowan, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger; Stevenson (Robinson 53), Taouil (D.McGowan 109), Barr, Novikovas (Driver 96); Paterson, Sutton. Subs not used: Enckelman, G. Smith.

Referee: Calum Murray

Top man: Andy Webster

Hearts World