Ben Parkinson stood hands on hips with the ball on the penalty spot. The former Newcastle player took a deep breath, three steps and blasted the ball into the Hearts net to send Falkirk into the last 16 of the Scottish Gas, Scottish Cup.
The 20-year-old, who scored Falkirk’s goal after 59 minutes, made the Men in Maroon pay for a miss by Elton Kabangu who fired the Jambos’ fourth penalty wide of the left-hand upright, the only player to miss during the shootout.
The Englishman earned the battling Bairns a 5-4 win on penalties after they were pegged back to 1-1 by a Lawrence Shankland (pictured) penalty with four minutes of regulation time remaining.
Earlier, versatile Harry Milne and Tomas Magnusson appeared to be in a midfield three with Beni Baningime and Hearts started well with Claudio Braga in on goal before pulling his shot wide.
The high-energy, home side dominated early possession but could not find the killer pass as they neared the Falkirk penalty area and it was The Bairns who earned the first corner of the game. It failed to test Jambos goalkeeper, Alexander Schwolow.
At the other end, Alexandros Kyziridis picked out Lawrence Shankland but the Jambos skipper headed straight at Falkirk goalkeeper Scott Bain.
Derek McInnes’ men continued to press, but Falkirk kept their cool despite finding it difficult to get out of their own half and failing to keep the ball for any length of time as busy Hearts kept up their pressure.
The home side switched play from side to side looking for an opening but Falkirk dug in as Greek winger Kyziridis probed. Braga had a chance but his shot was poor and Dutch defender Jordi Altena then forced a corner but, again, under-pressure Falkirk cleared.
Baningime then worked his way up the left and over half-way but he was blocked and Falkirk manager, John McGlynn, must have been happy that his men were still in the game at 0-0 and, at the other end, Leon McCann finished off their best move down the left with a shot from distance. Schwolow saved.
Falkirk drew confidence from that and continued to work their way into the game but defender Filip Lissah’s back pass to Bain was risky and short. Kyziridis was ready to pounce but Bain was quickly off his line to bail The Bairns out.
Then Falkirk gifted possession to Baningime and he fed Harry Milne. His shot was blocked but Falkirk were walking on thin ice and Calvin Miller was the first player to be shown a yellow card by referee Nick Walsh for chopping down Milne on the left-hand touchline.
The effort was there from both sides, but the quality was missing as play entered a scrappy phase near the break, possibly as both teams were tired after playing three games this week.
Barney Stewart then required attention after an aerial challenge from Frankie Kent and then Falkirk were awarded a corner. Miller sent his kick to the back post but it was cleared and Walsh signalled the end of the disappointing session.
McGlynn made three changes at the start of the second period with Louie Marsh, Ben Parkinson and Kyrell Wilson on. Falkirk looked a different side and their fans responded by upping their noise level.
Their favourites were showing more energy and pressurised the Men in Maroon, but things all changed when Tomas Magnusson netted with his left foot from eight yards after a ball into the box.
VAR was brought in questioning handball and the goal was ruled out.
Frustrating for the Jambos but relief for Falkirk and that promoted McInnes to make a change. Jamie McCart left the action with Blair Spittal coming on as the action boiled up. Seconds later and McGlynn’s men were ahead.
Former Newcastle forward Parkinson stabbed the ball home after a throw in on the stand side and a drive to the byline then a ball across the six-yard line. Time 59 minutes.
The Bairns celebrated and so did their fans and Parkinson was in again, but this time he failed to make it count.
Hearts were rocking, the triple substitution at the break having transformed the visitors, and Falkirk continued to force the play as Hearts struggled to make an impact.
Pierre Landry Kabore and Stuart Findlay were introduced for Craig Halkett, who had just been shown the yellow card for a foul on substitute Wilson, and Braga as Hearts desperately tried to find their way back into the fourth round tie.
Bain has not been forced to make a save in the second half as Falkirk seemed the most likely although Kyziridis did have a sight of goal before sending the ball high and wide.
On came another new signing for Hearts, a forward, Islam Cheznokov, for his debut as the clock ticked on to 75 minutes. He replaced defender Altena as McInnes gambled, forcing the white shirts back.
Lissah then brought down Kyziridis and was booked, giving Hearts a free-kick on the left. The Greek forward took the kick and Liam Henderson cleared under real pressure.
Cheznokov made an impact with seven minutes left, McCann brining him down. Referee Walsh pointed to the penalty spot and Mr Reliable, Shankland, did the business, making no mistake as Bain dived to his right. The ball went down the middle, high. All level at 1-1 with four minutes remaining.
Falkirk were down to ten men when the penalty was awarded, Lissah was down injured. Keelan Adams only came on as a substitute after the penalty bulged the net.
Five minutes of injury time was signalled and Parkinson was shown yellow for fouling Kent and his team-mate, Cheznokov, was then shown a yellow trying to break up a Falkirk counter-attack.
The final whistle sounded with the sides deadlocked. Extra time and Falkirk started on the front foot, Miller forcing Schwolow into a save. Then Shankland was noted limping and Belgian striker, Kabangu, was introduced.
Minutes later Falkirk signalled Ethan Ross to get ready but the teams could not be separated.
Adam Forrester, recalled from a loan spell from St Johnstone, was sent on for Hearts, replacing Magnusson, as the players ran on empty, and the quality went out of the game.
However, Hearts won a free-kick on the edge of the Falkirk box but Spittal fired the ball over the bar with Bain struggling.
At the other end, Marsh shot from around the penalty spot and was denied by Schwolow as Falkirk pushed for a winner and The Bairns appealed for a penalty when Dylan Tait ended up on the turn after a challenge from Kabangu. Tait was booked for diving.
One minute of added time was added on as experienced Brian Graham was introduced for Falkirk for Wilson. Deadlocked and into penalties. Kabangu missed a crucial kick for Hearts and substitute Parkinson finished the William Hill Premiership pace-setters off.
