Dhandha the hero as Hearts come from behind to stun Dinamo Minsk
Still without a permanent manager after sacking Steven Naismith, Hearts were looking to use their European campaign as a distraction from their miserable start to the season domestically. T
he Jambos asserted their authority in the contest early, enjoying the better of the play without translating that into clear-cut chances. Barrie McKay looked a threat, but he fired high and handsome over the bar with the best early chance.
Hearts’ toothlessness would be punished in the 21st minute too, as the hosts delivered a suckerpunch to break the deadlock. Raí’s cutback from the left byline found forward Steven Alfred in space, and he made no mistake in finding the far corner.
To their credit, Liam Fox’s men never wilted and by HT they’d deservedly levelled the scoreline, albeit in fortuitous circumstances. A corner from the right took a deflection at the near post, completely deceiving Dinamo captain Sergey Politevich, who somehow headed into the far corner of his own goal.
Hearts failed to take that momentum into the second half, however, with the game becoming much more of a midfield battle following the restart. Opposing number nines had opportunities to tilt the scales in their side’s favour, but Alfred’s tame header was easily saved by Craig Gordon before Lawrence Shankland saw an arrowing curled effort brilliantly tipped around the post by Fedor Lapoukhov.
By the closing stages, it was Hearts pushing for a winner, but once more, Shankland’s finishing let him down as a dangerous dart in from the left ended with a poor strike that was easily saved. Just as it looked like hope of a decisive strike was lost, Hearts – just as they did at the weekend against Ross County – struck at the death.
Dinamo failed to deal with a ball into their box, and Shankland’s header was turned home from close range by Dhanda to help Hearts win on the road for the first time since April.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Blair Spittal (Heart of Midlothian)
