Hearts set for Hampden return after penalty shootout win over Inverness

PHILIP Roberts' missed penalty for Caley sends ten man Hearts through to League Cup Final.

INVERNESS blew a great chance to reach their first major final as they paid the penalty for failing to see off 10-man Hearts.

Caley Thistle fans were dreaming of Hampden when Andrew Shinnie fired them ahead early in the second half.

And although debut boy Michael Ngoo grabbed a deserved leveller for the Jambos, it was all set up for Terry Butcher’s men when Scott Robinson saw red 15 minutes from time.

But the Highlanders couldn’t take advantage and striker Billy McKay missed a sitter in extra-time.

Sub Philip Roberts was then the sinner as he blazed the fifth Caley Thistle effort wildly over in the shoot out.

Inverness will be kicking themselves but Hearts fully merited their victory.

John McGlynn’s men battled hard and didn’t camp in when they were a man down. They still controlled the game and can now look forward to a Hampden return after last season’s memorable Scottish Cup win over bitter rivals Hibs.
Hero Hearts keeper Jamie MacDonald: I spooked Inverness CT into missing crucial penalty

The Jambos dominated the opening stages with Robinson pulling the strings in the middle of the park.

He was involved in the move that set up a chance for Danny Wilson.

The former Rangers stopper cracked in an eight-yard shot and Antonio Reguero palmed it away for a corner.

As they kept piling on the pressure, McGlynn’s side claimed for a penalty when Graeme Shinnie appeared to barge Jamie Walker. But ref Euan Norris waved play on – and he faced another big call when Ngoo and Gary Warren battled on the halfway line.

Both players picked up a booking but Butcher was rightly incensed as Ngoo had kneed Warren off the ball.

The on-loan Liverpool striker had an eventful debut and glanced a header off the post in 26 minutes.

Ngoo was a handful for the Caley Thistle defence and Hearts tried to get their tall hitman involved at every opportunity.

Inverness were favourites to progress thanks to their stunning form but often struggled to get out of their own half.

Their best first-half chance came in 15 minutes when McKay timed his run to perfection and gathered a long pass from Aaron Doran.

He was one on one against Jamie MacDonald and, with 20 goals under his belt this season, the smart money was on him to score. But McKay wasn’t his usual lethal self and shot weakly at the keeper.

Credit must go to Andy Webster for making up ground and breathing down McKay’s neck but the striker should have rattled home the opener.

Hearts players celebrate advancing to the League Cup Final

Norris was booed off at half-time by the Hearts fans after Richie Foran escaped a second yellow for a late tackle on Jamie Walker. And the stick was justified – it wasn’t good first half for the whistler.

But Butcher would have concentrated on his players during the interval and demanded more from them.

His pep talk certainly paid off as Caley Thistle got their noses in front just four minutes after the break.

Andrew Shinnie got half a yard of space inside the Hearts box and drilled a 16-yard shot low past MacDonald.

It was game on and Hearts roared straight back at the Highlanders.
Inverness marksman McKay: I should have put my chance away, but it wasn't to be

They put a lot of balls into the area in the hope Ngoo would get on the end of one. And he did after 65 minutes.

Fraser Mullen sent a free-kick deep into the box and the impressive Wilson rose above everyone at the back post to head back into the danger area.

Ngoo reacted fastest and slammed a volley past Reguero from seven yards for a deserved leveller.

Hearts were in the ascendancy and Inverness had to rely on the counter-attack. But it all changed in 75 minutes when Robinson was given a straight red by Norris for a two-footed lunge on Owain Tudur Jones.

The young midfielder was distraught but he left the referee with no option as it was a foolish challenge.

Hearts continued to press though and didn’t let the sending off hamper them.

They deserved to win over the 90 minutes but it went into extra-time and Jambos sub Arvydas Novikovas came close to
scoring in 95 minutes before Inverness blew the best chance to win the semi-final 10 minutes later.

McKay had an open goal at his mercy from Shane Sutherland’s pass but took an unnecessary touch and had to feed
Shinnie whose shot was saved brilliantly by MacDonald.

Butcher couldn’t believe it and his side almost lost it moments later. Webster’s header was heading home before Graeme Shinnie nodded his effort off the line.

Both teams seemed to settle for taking their chances in the shoot-out and it was the Jambos who held their nerve with
Marius Zaliukas, Ngoo, Webster, Novikovas and Mehdi Taouil scoring.

The Shinnie brothers, McKay and Tudur Jones were on target for Inverness before Roberts fluffed his lines.

Hearts now have the chance to lift their second trophy in nine months. Inverness, though, must continue to wait.

Taken from the Daily Record