Hearts 3 – 3 Motherwell

Substitute hero Claudio Braga scored two second-half goals as Hearts drew with Motherwell in a sizzling six goal thriller

Derek McInnes made three changes from last Saturday’s defeat to St Mirren, looking to build on their unbeaten home start. Motherwell made one change from last weekend’s dramatic extra-time League Cup victory over St Johnstone, Kofi Balmer replacing Ibrahim Said.

A sold-out Tynecastle endured a quiet opening 15 minutes. Pierre Landry Kabore came closest for the hosts, cutting in from the right but dragging wide.

The visitors took the lead in the 20th minute. A corner kick routine saw the Elliot Watt set up Callum Slattery on the edge of the box, his strike took a wicked deflection, wrong-footing Zander Clark, and sending the sold-out away allocation into frenzy. Slattery had scored the winning goal for Motherwell during their last Tynecastle victory, a positive sign for the away team.

Hearts looked to hit back through Stuart Findlay, who met Harry Milne’s back-post cross, but the header lacked power.

Derek McInnes’ side had enjoyed an unbeaten start at Tynecastle, but a lack of end product was frustrating the home faithful.

📺 WATCH NOW: Derek McInnes’ post match press conference

Jens Berthel Askou’s team were growing into the team, their midfield trio of Elijah Just, Watt, and Slattery were picking up effective spaces, and creating positive openings.

Their next chance came just after the half-hour mark. Tawanda Maswanhise’s inswinging cross was powered towards goal by Apostolos Stamatelopoulos. Zander Clark did well to tip away from his bottom corner.

The homeside created an opening on the stroke of halftime. Lawrence Shankland found Kabore in the box, but Calum Ward palmed away his directed strike.

The halftime whistle blew to a chorus of boos, and Derek McInnes’ men had plenty of work to do to maintain their unbeaten home record. Askou applauded his side’s efforts for much of the first half; a similar second half would secure their first league victory of the season.

Motherwell doubled their lead minutes into the second half. Just found Maswanhise on the edge of the box, who unleashed a low strike past the outstretched Clark. An excellent finish, but created superbly by Just

Hearts looked to respond instantly, but Claudio Braga’s low cross had no takers across the six-yard box.

📺 WATCH NOW: Well boss Jens Berthel Askou talks to the media at Tynecastle post game

The away side continued to pose a threat and added a third in the 62nd minute when Just beat the offside trap to split the Jambos’ backline open. He unselfishly set up Emmanuel Longelo, who fired into the open net from close range.

Some of the Hearts faithful had seen enough, opting for an early exit. However, Milne’s arrowing left-foot strike offered some hope to those who stayed.

Braga scored Hearts’ second in the 72nd minute; his low strike was deemed to be onside after a lengthy VAR check.

Hearts miraculously equalised in the 83rd minute. Harry Milne unleashed another powerful strike, which Ward palmed into the path of Braga, who needed no invitation to slam home from close range to set up a dramatic last seven minutes.

Both teams traded blows as the game reached its climax. Braga came the closest to winning the game in the third minute of additional time, but his strike came agonisingly off the post.

Six goals, plenty of drama, and a sensational advert for Scottish football.

PLAYER RATINGS

Hearts: Clark 5 Steinwender 5 Halkett 6 Findlay 5 Milne 6 Kabore 5 McEntee 5 Devlin 6 Forrest 6 Shankland 6 Wilson 5

Subs: Braga 7* Baningime 7* Spittal 5 Kent 5 Kyziridis 5

Motherwell: Ward 6 O’Donnell 6 McGinn 6 Balmer 6 Longelo 6 Fadinger 7 Watt 7 Slattery 8* Maswanhise 7 Just 8* Stamatelopoulos 6

Subs: Said 5 Hendry 5 Osong 5 Halliday