Bozanic fires Hearts to Scottish Cup semi-finals
Heart of Midlothian 1 Rangers 0
William Hill Scottish Cup Quarter Final – Saturday 29th
February 2020 – Tynecastle Park
Hearts
upset all the odds at Tynecastle on Saturday evening with a pulsating
performance to knock Rangers out of the William Hill Scottish Cup. A goal from
Ollie Bozanic was enough to take Hearts through to their second Hampden
semi-final in a year and secure their second win over Steven Gerrard’s team in
a month.
Hearts
manager Daniel Stendel made four changes from the team that salvaged a draw
against Hamilton Academical a fortnight ago. Conor Washington, Lewis Moore, Loic
Damour and Ollie Bozanic came in for Liam Boyce, Uche Ikpeazu, Andy Irving and
Jamie Walker.
There
was a major surprise in the visitors’ team sheet with the absence of talisman
Alfredo Morelos who was dropped over what the Rangers manager Steven Gerrard described
as a ‘disciplinary matter’.
Both
clubs agreed to the ridiculous ticket prices of £30 for adults and £20 for concessions
and this decision clearly backfired as Tynecastle was little over half full for
a cup quarter final with Rangers. When will the football bosses learn that you
simply can’t fleece the fans?
Hearts
started brightly and Steven Naismith forced Rangers keeper McGregor into a save
with a header from eight yards. This gave the home support some encouragement
and Loic Damour – a surprise inclusion – then had an effort on goal blocked.
Rangers’
Jack was then lucky to avoid a red card when he lunged in on Michael Smith, but
referee Steven McLean saw fit to show only a yellow card. The whistler didn’t have
the best of evenings…
There
was even more controversy right on half-time when Hearts were denied a clear
penalty after Edmundson used an arm to steer the ball away inside the penalty
box. But referee McLean saw nothing. The ref also didn’t see blatant hand ball
from Damour as he thought he had given Hearts the lead but a storm of protest
from the Rangers players forced him to think again. Hearts were just grateful he
didn’t flash a second yellow card to the Frenchman…
Hearts
again looked the likelier side to score as the second half got underway. In the
58th minute their persistence paid off. Slack defending from
Tavernier let in Lewis Moore. The youngster was calmness personified as he took
the ball round the advancing McGregor to tee it up for Ollie Bozanic who
smashed the ball home.
Those
Hearts supporters who had forked out for their exorbitantly priced tickets
roared their delight.
Steven
Naismith really ought to have finished the game when he was presented with a
golden opportunity after a mistake from Edmundson, but the Scotland striker fired
high and wide.
In
the end it didn’t really matter. Hearts had beaten Rangers again – the Ibrox
side have failed to win at Tynecastle in three attempts this season and have not
won a Scottish Cup tie in Gorgie since 1957 – and will take their place in
Sunday’s semi-final draw.
The
semi-finals of the William Hill Scottish Cup will take place on Easter weekend.
What chance another Edinburgh derby in the cup?
Hearts: Zlamal, Smith,
Souttar (Dikamona, 16′), Bozanic, Clare, Washington, Naismith, Damour, Halkett,
Moore, Hickey.
Rangers: McGregor,
Tavernier, Edmundson, Goldson, Jack (Hagi, 63′), Davis, Kent, Aribo, Stewart
(Defoe, 67′), Barisic, Arfield (Ojo, 33′).
Referee: Steven McLean
Attendance: 11,428
Top man: Lewis Moore
Photos courtesy of SNS