Semi-final spot kick agony for ICT

CALEY Thistle suffered an agonising penalty shoot-out defeat against Hearts at Easter Road as their Scottish Communities League Cup dreams ended in Saturday's semi-final.

Inverness CT, unbeaten in 10 games before this clash, were unchanged from the team which beat Aberdeen 3-0 in the SPL seven days previously.

The Jambos included striker Michael Ngoo, who was signed on the eve of the tie, leaving ICT with little time to do their homework.

Both sides began with plenty of purpose and another on-loan Liverpool ace, Scotland's Danny Wilson forced an early save from Antonio Reguero after he linked with Scott Robinson down the left side for Hearts.

The Maroons had penalty appeals waved away on 10 minutes when Graeme Shinnie's challenge on Jamie Walker was judged acceptable by referee Euan Norris.

A few minutes later, 20-goal striker Billy McKay beat the offside trap to latch on to a pass from Andrew Shinnie's pass, but his weak shot was touched wide by keeper Jamie MacDonald. It was a chance which many ICT fans would have backed the Northern Irishman to bury.

Gary Warren and Ngoo followed Richie Foran into the ref's book for yellow cards after a couple of tussles as the heat was cranked up at Leith.

The Liverpool loanees combined on 25 minutes when Wilson whipped in a cross from the left and Ngoo's header came back off the base of the post.

Six minutes before the break, McKay was unlucky as he watched his header when he met a Graeme Shinnie cross flash just wide.

This semi-final tipped in favour of Caley Thistle on 48 minutes when, after an Andrew Driver slip, McKay lined up Andrew Shinnie and, in front of the 2,500 ICT fans, he steered his shot beyond MacDonald to make it 1-0.

Hearts sought a swift reply and a great Reguero save from Walker kept them out on 57 minutes as the Edinburgh team pressed.

That pressure told on 65 minutes when Ngoo pounced to crack home a superb volley when he met a free-kick from the left side, which left Reguero beaten this time.

Hearts job seemed to get tougher though on 77 minutes when Scott Robinson was shown a red card for a challenge showing studs on Owain Tudur Jones.

In the final minute, Tudur Jones saw his deflected shot over the bar as ICT went on the attack.

So, it finished 1-1 and it was on to extra-time for these SPL rivals who had given their all.

At the end of the first period of extra-time, sub Philip Roberts laid the ball on a plate for McKay in front of an open goal, but he hestitated and failed to recover and he pulled it back for Andrew Shinnie, who was then denied by MacDonald.

It was a hammerblow for McKay, who has been electric this season and it gave the Tynecastle club a massive lift.

Hearts also came close, with Graeme Shinnie clearing a Wilson effort off the goal-line in a frenetic period. However, no side make the killer breakthrough and it came down to spot kicks.

Shooting into the ICT end, Hearts began the shoot-out. Nine penalties were scored, with Hearts 5-4 ahead then Roberts, who scored in a shoot-out win against Stenhousemuir earlier in the competition, was the unfortunate player to blast it high over the crossbar.

Many Caley Jags players sunk to the floor, while the jubilant Hearts players and fans began a party in their rivals' home ground.

Inverness CT: Reguero, Raven, Graeme Shinnie, Tudur Jones, Warren, Meekings, McKay, Draper, Foran (Sutherland 97), Andrew Shinnie, Doran (Roberts 88). Subs: Esson (GK), Devine, Ross.

Hearts: MacDonald, Zaliukas, Mullen, Wilson, Holt, Webster, Tapping (Taouil 97), Robinson, Walker (McGowan 112), Driver (Novikovas 66), Ngoo. Subs: Ridgers (GK), Sutton.

Referee: Euan Norris.

Attendance: 16,836.