Hearts thrash Inverness despite second-half scare

Hearts 6 - 2 Inverness Caledonian Thistle

Hearts survived a second-half scare from Scottish Championship side Inverness Caledonian Thistle before pulling away to book their place in the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals.

Author | Jamie P

Stadium | Tynecastle

Kick-off

The hosts, fresh from an impressive 1-1 draw with Benfica as they exited Europa League qualifying, made a number of changes but still looked in control during the opening 45 minutes.

Alfie Bavidge had an early effort ruled out for offside before Hearts responded quickly, Christian Borchgrevink heading them into the lead.

However, a two-minute double from Caley Thistle early in the second half turned the game on its head.

First, Ryan Duncan fired in an equaliser after being played through one-on-one by a superb Danny Devine pass. Moments later, Bavidge put Inverness ahead when he rounded the goalkeeper and slid the ball home.

View from the halfway line at Tynecastle

Hearts responded almost immediately

Sabah Kerjota, who had struck the crossbar with a close-range effort in the first half, danced past his man and floated a cross into the box, where Rogers Mato powered home a bullet header.

There was then a nervous wait for the next goal, but Hearts, like their visitors, were able to produce a quickfire double to put the result beyond doubt.

The third came from the penalty spot after Kerjota was fouled by Noa Butin, with Calvin Miller making no mistake from 12 yards. The fourth was again created by the diminutive Albanian winger.

His cross took a deflection, but Claudio Braga was still able to get a shot away. Inverness goalkeeper Ross Munro parried the effort upwards, allowing teenager James Wilson to nod home from a few yards out.

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Inverness began to tire while Hearts continued to press, and they made it five when Wilson got on the end of Borchgrevink's cross and found the top corner with his finish.

With virtually the last kick, Hearts added a sixth on the counter-attack. McPake played Miller through on goal and he calmly rolled the ball under the goalkeeper to complete his second of the night.