Substitute Alex Lowry struck two minutes into harm time to ship Hearts into the Viaplay Cup semi-finals with a 2-1 win away to Kilmarnock.
Steven Naismith’s workforce had cast in entrance by Jorge Grant’s first-half strike solely to be pegged again by Brad Lyons’ equaliser.
With additional time looming, Lowry – who had been on the pitch for lower than two minutes – took a cross from Liam Boyce earlier than rolling his shot into the far nook of the web.
It was the on-loan Rangers ahead’s first objective for Hearts since arriving at Tynecastle on mortgage final month and can ease among the stress that had been mounting on Naismith.
Kilmarnock had made only one change from the facet that drew with Dundee on the weekend with David Watson coming in for Marley Watkins, the match winner towards Celtic within the earlier spherical.
There have been three adjustments from the Hearts workforce crushed by St Mirren. In got here Grant, Toby Sibbick and Alan Forrest, changing Nathaniel Atkinson, Boyce and Beni Baningime.
The Tynecastle facet got here into the tie on a run of only one win from six video games and the travelling assist made their emotions is aware of as they unfurled a banner earlier than kick-off that learn, “funded by followers, ran by clowns, we deserve higher”.
It was Hearts who had the primary probability however a drive from Lawrence Shankland drifted effectively huge of objective.
On the different finish, Matty Kennedy’s mazy run carried him into the field just for Zander Clark to make a robust save to maintain out his shot.
5 minutes earlier than half-time, Hearts have been forward. Kyle Rowles carried the ball ahead earlier than feeding Shankland. The Hearts captain laid it off for Grant whose first-time end discovered the underside nook.
Kilmarnock replied with a Kyle Magennis volley that sailed astray, with the identical participant then coming even nearer with a very good probability early within the second half.
Hearts nearly doubled their lead when Stephen Kingsley’s ingenious effort struck the crossbar. The spectacular Magennis then teed up Kyle Vassell on the different finish and the striker’s pushed effort was effectively pushed away by Clark.
The house facet, although, wouldn’t be denied after 67 minutes. Vassell discovered Kennedy huge on the left and the winger’s trickery fooled Sibbick to earn himself a little bit of area. The previous Aberdeen participant then weighted the right cross for Lyons to go residence.
The house facet regarded those almost certainly to win it inside the regulation 90 minutes however as a substitute it was Hearts who can be heading to Hampden after Lowry’s dramatic late intervention.
What’s subsequent?
Kilmarnock’s subsequent Scottish Premiership match is at residence to St Mirren on Saturday whereas Hearts are away to Ross County. Each video games kick off at 3pm.