Hearts exited the Scottish Cup this evening, going down 5-4 on penalties to Falkirk in Round Four at Tynecastle Park.
The Jambos thought they had claimed the lead early in the second half via Tomas Magnusson from close range before VAR's intervention chalked it off, clearing the way for Ben Hutcinson to rifle home from close range minutes later.
Lawrence Shankland earned Hearts a lifeline five minutes from time with an equaliser from the spot, but after a goalless period of extra time, Elton Kabangu missed his spot kick that led to Falkirk winning 5-4 in the shoot-out.
With the league taking a backseat, and with injuries and suspensions beginning to mount, Derek McInnes shuffled the pack for the Round Four tie; Alex Schwolow returning to his posts after completing suspension - joined by Jordi Altena, Tomas Magnusson, Jamie McCart and Frankie Kent.
The Jambos started well, fashioning three chances in the opening 15 minutes: Claudio Braga screwing a side-footed drive into the side netting, before Scott Bain denied a routine header from Lawrence Shankland before gathering Alexandros Kyziridis’ dig from distance.
After an explosive start, the tempo began to settle with chances few and far between, with Falkirk carving out the next big one on the half-hour mark after some quick play that saw Leon McCann sent towards goal, Schwolow palming his ranged strike away from danger before Kent cleared.
At the other end, Hearts started to trouble, and it was McCann who dug the Bairns out of a hole with a well-timed block after Braga did well to slide the ball across to an oncoming Magnusson in the Falkirk box.
HT: Heart of Midlothian 0-0 Falkirk
Hearts started the half brightly, and thought they had got their noses in front after 52 minutes, as Tomas Magnusson swept home Harry Milne's delivery into a crowded Falkirk goalmouth - but his third strike of the season was chalked off by VAR after replays determined he had handled in the build up.
Falkirk quickly turned proceedings on their head, and claimed the lead after 58 minutes through substitute Ben Parkinson - who was in the right place at the right time to cannon the ball into the roof of the net after superb running and delivery from Filip Lissah cutting into the Jambos box.
Indeed, the Bairns started to enjoy the lion's share of possession, and Parkinson almost nabbed a second just minutes later after latching onto a ball forward and going one-on-one with Schwolow, but could only blast high and wide over the crossbar.
The Jambos maintained their assault, with Kyziridis cutting inside and going for goal after 75 minutes, but his speculative strike sailed over the crossbar as the clock ticked on in Gorgie.
Hearts threw the kitchen sink at it, including introducing Islam Chesnokov to proceedings from the bench for his debut, but the final ten was approaching and Hearts were struggling to pierce Falkirk's rearguard.
From a Kyziridis corner, the men in maroon went again, but as Stuart Findlay peeled the ball back to Magnusson on the edge of the area - the Icelandic midfielder's first-time effort was way over the bar.
With five to go, Hearts were thrown a lifeline as Chesnokov tore away from Leon McCann and into the Bairns box, with McCann chopping the man from Kazakhstan down to secure a penalty.
After VAR was satisfied, Lawrence Shankland stepped up to do what he does best, sending Scott Bain the wrong way from the spot, burying his strike down the middle for the equaliser, but after five minutes of stoppage time, there was no further chances, and this tie would go the distance and into extra-time.
After an uneventful first period of extra time, Blair Spittal had a fine chance at the free-kick 25-yards from goal after Kyziridis was brought down after 113 minutes, but his effort, whilst well placed, sneaked just over the crossbar and behind.
Falkirk had a dig of their own in the final action of extra time, with Alex Schwolow producing a fine save from Louie Marsh's volley at close range. With the clock up for both sides, the fate of this tie would be decided in a penalty shoot-out.
Hearts were able to score four times from the spot, but Elton Kabangu missed his kick, clearing the way for Hutchinson to convert the final penalty and eliminate the Jambos from the Scottish Cup.
Hearts: Schwolow, Kent, Halkett (Findlay 69'), McCart (Spittal 58'), Baningime, Shankland (Kabangu 96'), Braga (Kabore 69'), Milne, Magnusson (Forrester 105'), Altena (Chesnokov 77'), Kyziridis
Subs: Gordon, Kabangu, Kabore, Spittal, Forrest, Findlay, Kerjota, Forrester, Chesnokov
Falkirk: Bain, McCann, Henderson, Spencer, Yeats (Wilson 45') (Graham 119'), Stewart (Parkinson 45'), Cartwright (Marsh 45'), Allan, Tait, Lissah (Adams 86'), Miller (Ross 97')
Subs: Hogarth, Adams, Donaldson, Graham, Wilson, Ross, Williams, Parkinson, Marsh
Attendance: 17,109
Hearts Debut: Islam Chesnokov
