Heart of Midlothian 2 - 0 Aberdeen

Aberdeen’s wait for a win at Tynecastle extended to 24 games as they went down to defeat to Hearts, despite creating a number of good chances, particularly in the second half.

There were Aberdeen debuts for Adil Aouchiche, Kusini Yengi and Nicolas Milanovic as the Dons kicked off the new season in Gorgie.

The game got underway in blustery conditions, the tail end of Storm Floris blowing through Tynecastle. The first chance fell to Aberdeen, a loose clearance dropping for Aouchiche on five minutes but he jabbed his shot wide of the goal from the edge of the box.

Hearts were in front on 11 minutes. Braga was sent away down the right and as Mats Knoester slipped, he was able to cross for McEntee. His header from eight yards forced a great save out of Dimitar Mitov, but the Dons couldn’t clear their lines amid some goalmouth pinball from there, the ball eventually reaching Harry Milne on the left. He drilled a cross through the six yard box, where it cannoned into the unlucky Graeme Shinnie and flew into the net.

It could have been two a few moments later, Milne coming forward down the left for Hearts and curling a terrific shot over Mitov from 20 yards out, the ball pinging back into play off the bar.

On 16, Yengi was near a debut goal, manufacturing a shot from a low cross from Milanovic, the ball looping away from Gordon but thumping into the base of the post and bouncing clear.

Kent was in the book on 19 minutes for a late tackle on Aouchiche on the left. Eight minutes later, his glancing header from Findlay’s ball at the near post flashed across goal but wide of the far post.

Aberdeen competed well thereafter, the game very tight, but a moment of quality from Shankland on 44 minutes looked to have doubled the lead. Stepping inside to the left of the D, he wrapped his foot around the ball and buried it in the far top corner from 20 yards out. The Dons were reprieved by VAR, Halkett ruled offside in the build up, a real break for Aberdeen going into the interval.

HALF-TIME: HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN 1 ABERDEEN 0

Aberdeen should have been on terms on 50 minutes. Leighton Clarkson bent in a brilliant free-kick from the right flank 30 yards out, Yengi, timing his run perfectly, running clear of the defence to get on the end of it eight yards out, but the striker deflected his first time effort back across goal and wide. It was a golden opportunity gone begging.

The Dons were more aggressive now though and good feet from Milanovic, dancing in from the right, got him space to fire off a shot from just inside the box that Clark could only push away on 52 minutes. Halkett was booked two minutes later for a foul on Heltne Nilsen.

Clarkson stood over another free-kick on 55, arcing it to the back post, Jack Milne trying to get on the end of it, but he could only get a slight touch on it to push it wide.

Aouchiche was booked on the hour for pushing Devlin to the ground as the players were awaiting a free-kick. Devlin followed him in a minute later for going through the back of Aouchiche.

Dante Polvara and Fletcher Boyd replaced Yengi and Keskinen for Aberdeen in the 63rd minute, then Shayden Morris came on for Heltne Nilsen on 69. Hearts made a quadruple change a minute later, Spittal, Kent, Borchgevink and Braga all making way for Forrest, Kyziridis, Braga and Steinwender.

It did the trick for the hosts for they were 2-0 up on 73. Harry Milne slung in a free-kick across goal from 30 yards out. Knoester flicked it on, Findlay coming in at the far post to force his header back across goal and in. Milanovic was booked five minutes later for sliding in late on Shankland.

Another great chance went begging with ten minutes left. Morris bent in a fine cross that Clark spilled. Aouchiche was first onto it but could not get a good enough contact and speared the ball wide of the target from six yards, a real opportunity to get back in the game. Nicky Devlin and Ester Sokler replaced Shinnie and Milanovic a minute later.

It looked like Jack Milne was in in the 85th minute, making a run to the back post to get on the end of a Clarkson corner, but he was crowded out by some good defending from Hearts. Aberdeen were again knocking on the door, but unable to get through it.

Shankland was replaced by Magnusson as the game went into five added minutes, the home side seeing out their victory.

5 minutes added at end 1st half.
5 minutes added at end 2nd half.