Hearts fell to a 2-1 defeat to Hibs in the Premier Sports Cup semi-final on Sunday.
Claudio Braga’s early opener had the Jambos in dreamland before being pegged back by Martin Boyle’s strike, with Jamie McGrath’s first-half effort proving decisive on an afternoon when two more players were lost to injury in Tomas Magnusson and Calvin Miller.
Head Coach Wouter Vrancken made one change from the side that drew with Rangers in midweek. Stephen Kingsley returned to wear the captain’s armband with Rogers Mato missing out through injury.
With only four minutes on the clock it was 1-0 to the Jambos. Calvin Miller swung a corner into the middle of the box for the leaping Braga to outjump eberyone and bullet a header beyond Sallinger and into the back of the net.
Soon after, Beau Reus was at his best to deny Hibs an equaliser. A quick breakaway saw Passlack slipped into the box but his low drive was blocked then smothered by the big Dutchman.
With ten minutes on the clock it was nearly 2-0. Miller was again provider, sending a cross into the box for the diving Tomsa Magnusson to meet but he sent his header narrowly wide of Sallinger’s left-hand post.
To add insult to injury, Magnusson suffered a head knock in the process and was forced off, being replaced by Yan Dhanda.
Hibs continued their search for parity and went close when Mayor cut back for Elding but he fired well over the bar from the six-yard box.
That goal did come after 19 minutes, when Boyle slipped the offside trap by the narrowest of margins to get into the box and although his shot took a big deflection, it creeped into the far corner off the post.
It took until the 34th minute for another crack at goal and it came via Newell, who shot from distance and watched it skim the crossbar on its way over.
Hearts then lost the services of Miller, who had tried to play on following an earlier collision with Boyle. He was replaced by Sabri Guendouz with eight minutes of the first half remaining.
Hibs took the lead before the half was out. Newell’s shot was well saved by Reus but fell to the unmarked McGrath who placed it into the bottom corner from close range.
There was still time for one more Hearts opportunity. Josh McPake cut in from the left to whip a cross into the box which Braga connected with but he was unable to steer his header on target.
Hearts started the second half brightly, putting Hibs under the cosh. Mendy had space in front of him early on and lashed one towards goal but didn’t get enough bend on it and the ball flew wide.
Hibs went straight up the other end and created a chance of their own, with Boyle forcing Reus into a smart stop.
Reus then made a fine save on his line to deny Ivezic, who had a free header at a corner.
Moments later Kerjota sent a ball over the top for Braga to run on to, he got into the box before seeing his powerful drive pushed round the post by Sallinger. From the resultant corner, the ball eventually fell to Dhanda outside the box and his looping shot wasn’t too far away.
Soon after, a well-worked Hearts move saw Guendouz unleash a rasper of a shot from outside the box that Sallinger did well to tip over the bar.
Hearts kept the pressure up but that equaliser proved elusive, and now must turn attentions to next Thursday’s UEFA Conference League match away to FC Thun.
Hearts: Reus, Kingsley, McCart, Miller (Guendouz, 37’), Braga, McPake, Magnusson (Dhanda, 15’ – Wilson, 84’), Altena, Kerjota (Benjaminsen, 80’), Fagan-Walcott, Mendy.
Subs: Fulton, Williams, Kabore, Findlay, Pollock.
Hibs: Sallinger, Mayor, Ivezic, Kerr, Elding (Klidje, 74’), Mulligan, Boyle (Cadden, 85’), Newell (Wright, 74’), Chaiwa, McGrath (Hanley, 85’), Passlack.
Subs: Smith, Iredale, Suto, Matondo, Abdulai.
