As the clock wound down at Hampden, onlookers braced for the late heartbreak that plagued Hibs in previous encounters with their city rivals. With just 10 minutes remaining and a 2-1 lead intact, past late goals in Edinburgh derbies loomed large over a side currently sitting at the bottom of the league.
A Dramatic Denouement at Hampden
Deep into the closing stages, Hearts pressed hard for an equalizer. Jordi Altena delivered a cross from the right that found Claudio Braga unmarked a few yards from the goal. Braga, who had already scored earlier, missed the golden opportunity, leaving teammates rooted in disbelief and sending the Hibs supporters into a frenzy.
For manager Marink Reedijk, who recently took charge, beating Hearts in a cup semi-final provides an immediate lift. Supporters who suffered through a difficult campaign filled with bitterness both on and off the field were finally liberated from late defeats that previously cost them dearly against domestic and European opponents.
Overcoming Early Setbacks
Entering the match as underdogs, Hibs faced familiar struggles when Braga opened the scoring after just four minutes with an easy header from point-blank range. Despite a difficult run of form that included no league wins in six matches, Hibs turned the tide against a depleted Hearts squad.
Hearts dealt with further injury blows during the opening half. Tomas Magnusson was removed following a clash of heads, and Calvin Miller succumbed to a knee injury that required a brace. Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken intervened on the touchline to prevent a clearly unsteady Magnusson from returning to the field.
Securing the Victory
Capitalizing on the momentum, Joe Newell dominated the midfield while Martin Boyle and Jamie McGrath scored before the break to give Hibs a 2-1 lead. It marked the first time Hibs scored twice against Premiership opposition since August.
Hearts threw everything into the second half, mounting pressure through attempts from Laurent Mendy, Braga, and Sabri Guendouz. Hibs also squandered counter-attacking chances, including a close-range miss by Marko Ivezic, but ultimately held on until the final whistle.
The victory sets up a League Cup final appearance against Rangers next month, offering a potential turning point for a Hibs side looking to translate cup success into their league campaign.
