Dundee’s Scottish Cup campaign came to an end with a 3-1 defeat against Hearts in the quarter final at Tynecastle. Sander Kartum put Hearts ahead midway through the first half. Joe Shaughnessy equalised for the Dark Blues early in the second half, but an unfortunate Simon Murray own goal and Kartum’s second goal allowed Hearts to see out the game comfortably.
There were two changes to the Dee’s starting line-up. Ryan Astley and Fin Robertson came in for the suspended Lyall Cameron and for Mo Sylla, who was on the bench.
The Dark Blues won some early corners without creating any real danger. From the first one Hearts broke quickly and Kenneth Vargas curled his shot wide.
For the next 25 minutes both sides traded attacks, playing their way into some good positions without coming close to scoring. Hearts always had a slight edge, thanks mainly dangerous attacks coming down their left.
It was from a throw in on the left that Hearts took the lead after 27 minutes. Lawrence Shankland and Blair Spittal worked the ball across for Sander KARTUM to curl an unstoppable shot from 25 yards into Trevor Carson’s top corner.
The Dark Blues kept getting forward and winning corners but with no end product. Hearts should have added to their lead when quick passing opened up the Dee defence to leave Vargas in space 15 yards out. With only Carson to beat he shot straight against the keeper. Elton Kabangu touched the loose ball on to Shankland whose lob sailed over Carson, but the goal was chopped off because Kabangu was clearly offside when the first shot came in.
Dundee continually gave themselves unnecessary problems by losing possession cheaply, and conceding avoidable free kicks. From one of them, in added time at the end of the half, Dundee broke away. Simon Murray flicked a pass on for Seun Adewumi to run clear and his shot looked bound for the net but smashed off the crossbar.
Mo Sylla came on to replace Jordan McGhee in midfield at half time. The first couple of minutes after the restart made uncomfortable viewing as Hearts went close twice. There was a scramble in the Dee penalty area which ended with Carson fortunate to get away with dropping a high ball. In the next attack Kartum sent a shot from 20 yards just over the bar.
After that nervy opening to the second half the next 10 minutes were all Dundee as they put Hearts under fierce pressure that brought at quick equaliser.
A throw in on the left was taken short and Ziyad Larkeche dug out a superb cross from the byline. Joe SHAUGHNESSY had stayed up after the previous corner and headed neatly across Gordon to bring the Dark Blues back onto level terms.
Dundee threw themselves at Hearts and for a few minutes there was real belief that they could turn the game round. Hearts switched off at a free kick allowing Adewumi to send Robertson to the byline and Gordon was happy to push the dangerous cross round the post.
After that encouraging spell the game swung firmly back in Hearts favour and the home side were on top for the rest of the match. Dundee had a narrow escape when Hearts broke across the halfway line. Sylla fouled Vargas, but referee Kevin Clancy played the advantage allowing Kabangu to run clear. Cesar Garza sprinted back to put in a superb challenge as Kabunga shot.
The Dee defence couldn’t deal with the resulting corner and Murray had to head clear from almost on the goal line.
Hearts settled the game by scoring twice in five minutes in the middle of the second half. The first was a free kick from wide on the right by Spittal. The delivery was perfect, inviting any sort of touch. Sadly that touch came off the top of Murray’s head and Carson was helpless.
Five minutes later KARTUM spun away from Robertson into space in midfield. He ran on and scored with a precise shot with the outside of his left foot from 18 yards.
For the remainder of the game Dundee chased desperately for a goal to drag them back into contention, but it was always Hearts who threatened to add to their lead. Carson had to save twice from Kabunga and also made good saves from substitutes Calem Nieuwenhof and Alan Forrest.
In added time Ryan Astley poked the ball past Gordon following a free kick, but Sylla was offside when he headed the ball on and the Dark Blues were denied that slight consolation.
Dundee’s failings in defence have been familiar all season, but the more recent problems in midfield and attack were again visible. The Dark Blues could not create enough danger coming forward, and the tireless Simon Murray did not get the support he needed.
Apart from that brief spell early in the second half Dundee were second best tonight. Hearts were on top for most of the match, and even when they slipped into a lower gear they were able to contain the Dark Blues and deservedly move forward to the semi-finals.
Heart of Midlothian 4-1-2-1-2
Gordon
Forrester, Steinwender, Neilson, Penrice
Baningime
Kartum (Drammeh 86), Spittal (Forrest 77)
Vargas (Nieuwenhof 77)
Shankland (c), Kabangu (Wilson 86)
Unused subs: Clark (gk), Grant, Dhanda, Taylor.
Goals: Kartum (27, 68), Murray og (63).
Booked: Nieuwenhof (foul on Adewumi).
Dundee FC 3-5-1-1
Carson
Astley, Shaughnessy (c), Donnelly
Mulligan, Garza (Reilly 82), McGhee (Sylla at half time), Fin Robertson, Larkeche (Tiffoney 74)
Adewumi
Murray
Unused subs: McCracken (gk), Sharp (gk), Ingram, Samuels, Lopez.
Goal: Shaughnessy (50).
Booked: Sylla (foul on Vargas).
Referee: Kevin Clancy. Assistants: David Roome, Alastair Mather. VAR: Andrew Dallas. Assistant VAR: Graeme Stewart.
Attendance: 17,975.
Report: James Christie.
