As time ticked on at Hampden, you waited for the Hearts kick to the Hibs solar plexus, the late sickener that became such a huge theme in their clashes last season. Were Hibs, bottom of the league and incapable of buying a win in recent weeks, really about to beat their city rivals at Hampden for the first time ever? There were 10 minutes between Hibs and a League Cup final against Rangers, but 10 minutes can be an eternity between these two.
Five minutes left to play now and Hibs still holding a 2-1 lead, but recent history tells us that even five minutes is plenty of time for everything to turn on its head. Late, late plot twists and late, late Hearts victories came in minutes 86, 88 and 90 in three different Edinburgh derbies last season - all in Hearts' favour, all dropping Hibs to their knees in angst. Now we were in sniper's alley; two minutes left and Hearts pushing hard.
Hibs edge Hearts in thrilling derby to reach League Cup final Jordi Altena's delivery from the right finds Claudio Braga, one of the chief dangermen in maroon left all on his lonesome a few yards from goal. Braga's already scored one and is about to score two. Hibs are about to Hibs it all over again.
But, no, not this time, not today. Braga blew his big chance. He stood there almost in disbelief.
Some of his team-mates were rooted to the spot. Hibs fans, meanwhile, went berserk. A set of fans hard-bitten by late goals costing them dear this season and last, not just against Hearts, but against Midtjylland and Legia Warsaw, Livingston and Dunfermline, Dundee and Motherwell, Gent and St Mirren, now liberated from the sucker punch.
Free of Hearts' gloating. Joy at last in a season that has brought little more than bitterness and rancour about the state of the club, on the field and off. Marink Reedijk, their manager, is just in the door.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
