Hearts claim bonus point after penalty shoot-out win
Heart of Midlothian 1 Dundee United 1 (Hearts win 5-3 on penalties)
Scottish League Cup – Group A – Friday 12th July 2019 – Tynecastle Park
Forty-eight
days after their defeat from Celtic in the Scottish Cup final at the end of
last season, Hearts began season 2019/20 with a Scottish League Cup Group A tie
against Dundee United.
I’m
an advocate for summer football but those who argue against this were wearing
smug grins as the heavens opened in Edinburgh on Friday evening and incessant rain
made for testing conditions for players and supporters alike.
Hearts
manager Craig Levein gave a debut to new striker Conor Washington and a starting
place to Jamie Walker, the Gorgie prodigal son back from Wigan to where it all
began.
Hearts
began on the front foot, but it was the visitors, managed by former Hearts Head
Coach Robbie Neilson who shocked the home support by taking the lead in the 8th
minute. Fine play by Stanton saw him dance through the Hearts defence before
clipping the ball for United’s new signing Shankland to stoop to head home.
Hearts
dominated the game thereafter but struggled to seriously threaten the United
goal. Washington had a chance just inside the United penalty box but dragged
his shot wide while Jamie Walker could have made it a dream second debut but
wasted a great chance in front of goal.
However,
right on half-time Hearts got the equaliser their dominance deserved. Andy
Irving, whose ineligible appearance for Hearts in last season’s League Cup tie
against Cove Rangers cost Hearts two points, drilled home a superb low shot from
the edge of the United penalty area and the game was level.
The
second half took on the same story as the first with Hearts dominant but unable
to score. In fact, it was United who scorned the best opportunity through Clark
when Hearts keeper Bobby Zlamal tipped his shot wide. Clark’s father, Sandy,
would surely have buried such an effort when he wore the maroon of Hearts in
the 1980s.
Hearts
goalscorer Andy Irving was sent off towards the end of the game for deliberate
hand ball thereby denying United an obvious goalscoring opportunity. It seemed
a harsh decision from referee Kevin Clancy and a disconsolate Irving left the
field, probably wishing he could join his mates who he used to sit next to in
the Wheatfield Stand.
The
game ended at 1-1 but the format of the League Cup sees the tie decided by a
penalty shoot-out. Hearts scored with all five penalty kicks – Sean Clare,
Michael Smith, Conor Washington, Oliver Bozanic and John Souttar doing the business
to claim a bonus point after Clark missed for United. The additional point enables
the Maroons to top Group A.
Hearts
next fixture in the League Cup is away at Cowdenbeath on Tuesday evening.
Hearts: Zlamal, M.
Smith, Souttar, Berra, Clare, Washington, Walker (McDonald, 80′), Mulraney
(Zanatta, 75′), Ikpeazu (Bozanic, 84′), Irving, Hickey.
Dundee United: Siegrist, L. Smith, Sporle (Butcher, 46′),
Connolly, Reynolds, McMullan, Clark, Stanton (Banks, 34′), Robson, Bouhenna,
Shankland (Appere, 62′).
Referee: Kevin Clancy
Attendance: 9,091
Top man: Aaron Hickey