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Ahead of this match, Hearts manager Derek McInnes emphasized that despite last weekend’s disappointing Premier Sports Cup defeat to St Mirren, the team’s momentum at Tynecastle was still intact.
By the 65-minute mark, that sentiment seemed hard to justify as his team had been thoroughly outplayed up to that point.
The only critique of Jens Berthel Askou’s team during their unbeaten streak this season was a lack of a decisive attack, which wasn’t an issue this time.
How Hearts managed to turn the game in their favor is anyone’s guess, highlighting their strong character. Though their flawless start came to a pause, the outcome likely felt like a victory given the circumstances.
The visitors displayed a confident style, adeptly passing the ball around, much like the style Russell Martin is aiming for at Rangers, with Fir Park executing it with superior skill.
Braga hails his second of the match against Motherwell
The Portuguese netted his second of the day moments later to level the scores at 3-3
Despite this, Pierre Landry Kabore, making his debut at Tynecastle, had the earliest opportunity. His energetic run from the right across the 18-yard line ended with a weak shot that went wide. The Burkina Faso player was undoubtedly Hearts’ most dynamic performer in the first half, though his teammates were sluggish in delivering the ball to him.
The play was interrupted as both sets of fans showed their support for Morton manager Dougie Imrie, who this week suffered the tragic loss of his baby daughter Remi. Another emotional reminder of how trivial football really is.
Motherwell picked up from where they left off when the action resumed, and took a deserved lead courtesy of a perfectly executed move right off the training ground.
Emmanuel Longelo played corner short to Elliot Watt, who laid it off to midfield partner Callum Slattery. His first-time strike from 20 yards took a nick off a Hearts heel on its way to the bottom corner.
From Motherwell’s perspective, it was brilliant. Brutal from Hearts though.
Maswanhise had previously given Motherwell a 2-0 lead at Tynecastle
Emmanuel Longelo thought he had made the game safe after making it 3-0
By this point, they couldn’t string three passes together. Motherwell were all over them. Their midfield quartet were outstanding. They clearly enjoy this new system, and no wonder when they see this much of the ball.
It took the best part of 40 minutes for Hearts to wake up. Shankland did well to hold off his man at the byline before cutting it back for Kabore, whose shot was tipped around the post by Calum Ward.
McInnes responded at the interval with two changes. It was a bit of a surprise to see Kabore hooked. James Wilson joined him on the bench.
This was a big opportunity for the 18-year-old to impress on his first league start of the season. It’s hard to be too critical of him, mind you. He wasn’t the main reason for the team’s dismal performance.
The changes failed to have the desired effect as Motherwell doubled their advantage within five minutes of the restart.
The move started deep in their own half, before the ball ended up at the feet of Just down near the corner flag. The Kiwi jinked his way past a couple of half-hearted challenges before feeding Tawanda Maswanhise. His powerful drive found the far corner.
Some home fans had seen enough.
Motherwell’s third on 62 minutes was so simple. No surprise it was Just at the heart of it once again. Stephen O’Donnell released him in behind a statuesque Hearts backline, and he selflessly put it on a plate for Emmanuel Longelo to finish at the back post.
Hearts, however, reduced the deficit within minutes as substitute Claudio Braga’s blocked shot was leathered home by Harry Milne on the half-volley.
Braga and the hosts had other ideas, however, the midfielder twice scoring after Milne’s goal
Braga then lifted the roof off after latching on to a hopeful punt over the top and finishing through Ward’s legs. The linesman put his flag up to dampen the mood. VAR quickly overturned it.
It was his missed penalty which ultimately saw Hearts dumped out of the cup in Paisley. He single-handedly dragged Hearts back in to this contest. He levelled things up with less than 10 minutes remaining. Milne – one of several in maroon suddenly transformed – had a pop from 20 yards.
Ward should have dealt with it. Instead, he parried straight to Braga who couldn’t miss from five yards.
Ward was sharp off his line to stop Braga completing his hat-trick as stoppage-time loomed, before tipping the striker’s shot on to the post in the final action of a breathless encounter.
