By Callum McFadden at Hampden Park.
Hibernian defeated Edinburgh rivals Hearts at Hampden to book their place in the Scottish League Cup final, where they will face Rangers, after an entertaining semi-final encounter.
Coming into the contest, Hearts occupied third place in the Scottish Premiership, while Hibernian sat bottom of the table. The contrasting fortunes of the Edinburgh rivals were reflected in the contrasting starts to their respective seasons, with Hibs manager Marink Reedijk still searching for his first victory since taking charge, having drawn one and lost three of his opening four matches.
However, the scale of the task facing Reedijk and his side became apparent almost immediately as Hearts made an aggressive start and took the lead after just four minutes. Portuguese playmaker Claudio Braga rose highest inside the Hibernian six-yard box to head home Calvin Miller’s corner and give the Jambos an early advantage.
Hibernian had an opportunity to respond almost instantly, but captain Felix Passlack squandered a glorious chance to restore parity. Finding himself one-on-one with Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus, the German could only watch as the Dutch stopper spread himself to keep out his low-driven effort with his feet.
Hearts suffered an early setback moments later when midfielder Thomas Magnusson was forced off under concussion protocols following a clash of heads with Hibernian defender Jason Kerr. The incident occurred as Magnusson attempted to direct another inviting Calvin Miller cross towards goal, disrupting Hearts’ promising start.
The frenetic opening continued as the game approached the quarter-hour mark, with Hibernian threatening once again. Adam Mayor delivered a dangerous low cross into the Hearts penalty area, but Owen Elding was unable to capitalise, firing over the crossbar from close range.
Hibernian eventually made their pressure count in the 19th minute, with Elding instrumental in bringing his side level. The forward delivered an intelligently weighted chipped pass into the penalty area, where Martin Boyle showed composure to bring the ball under control before slotting past Reus, with his effort finding the net via the inside of the post.
The Hibees continued to grow into the contest and came agonisingly close to completing the turnaround shortly after the half-hour mark. Joe Newell unleashed a spectacular effort from around 30 yards, but his powerful strike crashed against the crossbar before bouncing behind, leaving Hearts fortunate to escape.
Hibernian did not have to wait much longer to take the lead, however, as Irish international Jamie McGrath completed the turnaround in the 42nd minute. Newell’s effort was blocked by the legs of Laurent Mendy, but the loose ball fell invitingly into McGrath’s path, allowing the midfielder to react quickest and fire home from close range.
Hearts emerged for the second half with renewed intensity, mirroring their fast start to the opening period as they looked to restore parity. Malachi Fagan-Walcott fashioned their first opportunity of the restart in the 53rd minute, collecting the ball on the edge of the Hibernian penalty area before curling an effort narrowly wide of the right-hand post.
Claudio Braga and Yan Dhanda were the next to threaten for Hearts as they searched for an equaliser. Braga saw his effort saved by Hibernian goalkeeper Raphael Sallinger, while Dhanda was unable to find the target with a strike that looped wide.
As the hour mark approached, Hibernian reminded their city rivals of their attacking threat on the counter-attack. Martin Boyle worked an opening just inside the Hearts penalty area before testing Reus with a low-driven effort.
Hibs came close to extending their advantage in the 66th minute when centre-back Marko Ivezic met a Boyle corner with a powerful header. However, his effort was directed straight at Reus, allowing the Hearts goalkeeper to make a relatively straightforward save.
Substitute Sabri Guendouz then threatened at the other end just two minutes later, unleashing a powerful effort that Sallinger did well to tip over the crossbar as both sides continued to search for the next goal in an increasingly open contest.
Both teams continued to commit players forward as the closing stages approached, with Hearts desperately searching for a route back into the contest and Hibernian looking to put the result beyond doubt. However, neither side could find another breakthrough as the Hibees held on to secure a memorable victory.
The result represents a significant milestone for Reedijk, who finally secured his first victory as Hibernian manager in the most significant of Edinburgh derbies. More importantly, it sends his side to Hampden for a League Cup final against Rangers, giving the Hibees an opportunity to lift the trophy for the first time since 2007.
After a difficult start to his tenure and a challenging league campaign, Reedijk now has the chance to deliver silverware and provide Hibernian supporters with a memorable occasion against one of Scottish football’s biggest rivals.
Hearts: Reus, Altena, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Kingsley, Mendy, Magnusson (Dhanda, 14, Wilson, 84), Kerjota (Benjaminsen, 81), Miller (Guendouz, 37), McPake, Braga.
Substitutes: Fulton, Williams, Kabore, Findlay, Guendouz, Wilson, Benjaminsen, Dhanda, Pollock.
Hibernian: Sallinger, Passlack, Kerr, Ivezic, Mayor, Newell (Wright, 74), Chaiwa, Mulligan, McGrath (Hanley, 85), Boyle (Cadden, 85), Elding (Klidje, 74).
Substitutes: Smith, Hanley, Iredale, Klidje, Cadden, Suto, Wright, Matondo, Abdulai.
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