Hearts Miss Out On Scottish Cup Final
Hearts missed out a fourth Scottish Cup final in six seasons after slipping to defeat against Rangers in the semi-final at Hampden Park.
The Edinburgh side headed into the game bidding to avenge a 5-0 defeat to their Glasgow rivals in the league, with a spot in the final against Celtic awaiting the winners a following a dramatic win over Aberdeen the previous day.
Rangers had the first chance in front of goal when Cyriel Dessers fired over the bar but the Nigerian wasted little time in making amends when he fired past Craig Gordon into the net after just five minutes.
Whilst it was Rangers who had the early opportunities, Hearts started to grow into the game, with Allan Forrest forcing Jack Butland into a save with a shot from a tight angle.
A goal down at the break, Hearts had chances to equalise although at the other end, Dessers missed a great chance to wrap things up when he tried to go round the ‘keeper and was dispossessed.
Star striker Lawrence Shankland headed a corner into the side netting as Hearts continued to chase a goal but Rangers wrapped things up with little over ten minutes left when Dessers scored his second.
Played in by Todd Cantwell, he saw his first shot saved by Gordon but picked up the rebound and turned his man in the box before beating the ‘keeper.
Dessers and Fabio Silva both missed chances to add a third whilst Yutaro Oda forced Butland into a smart save at the other end.
Hearts now turn focus to wrapping up third in the standings, with the final five games after the split kicking off against Kilmarnock this weekend.
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