Giant curiosity Hibs finally liberated from the sucker punch
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. Extra-time beckons.
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. Short of handing the Hibs fans the winning numbers in the lottery there is no greater way for him to endear himself to supporters than beating Hearts. Beating them anywhere, anyhow is special. Beating them in a cup semi-final is extra-special.
