Giant curiosity Hibs finally liberated from the sucker punch
Hibernian beat Hearts 2-1 in a Scottish League Cup semi-final at Hampden, reaching the final against Rangers and ending a run of painful late derby defeats. The result was especially significant for a Hibs side bottom of the league and short of recent wins, and gave new manager Marink Reedijk a major early boost with supporters.
Hearts took the lead through Claudio Braga after four minutes, but Hibs recovered and went ahead; Braga then missed a late chance to force extra time. Hibs had scored only four goals in their previous six matches and had gone six league games without a win. Hearts were also affected by injuries, with Tomas Magnusson and Calvin Miller both leaving the match.
In short
- Hibs beat Hearts 2-1 to reach the League Cup final.
- Braga missed a late chance to take the match to extra time.
- The win ended a run of painful late derby defeats.
Explained simply
Hibernian and Heart of Midlothian, usually called Hibs and Hearts, are Edinburgh’s two main football clubs. Their rivalry is known as the Edinburgh derby, and matches between them carry particular importance for players and supporters.
The Scottish League Cup is a knockout competition for clubs in Scotland’s professional leagues. Its semi-finals are played at Hampden Park in Glasgow, with the winners advancing to the final and a chance to win a national trophy.
Hibs and Hearts compete in the Scottish Premiership, the country’s top league. A cup run can offer a separate route to silverware, while results in the derby can shape confidence and support for a team and its manager.