St Mirren exited the Scottish Cup in cruel fashion after losing to Hearts in a penalty shoot-out at The SMiSA Stadium.
Mikael Mandron had Saints ahead and his first-half goal looked like being enough to send the Buddies through to the last eight. But Calem Nieuwenhof equalised with six minutes of normal time remaining to send the game to extra-time. An extra 30 minutes couldn't separate the sides and that meant penalty kicks. Oisin Smyth and James Scott saw their spot-kicks saved by Craig Gordon and despite Zach Hemming saving from Gerard Taylor, the away side prevailed 4-2.
Ryan Alebiosu came in for his debut after signing for Saints on deadline day, while Declan John also started. They came in for Elvis Bwomono and Scott Tanser with Tanser missing out with an injury.
The Buddies started the game brightly with Toyosi Olusanya having a big chance to open the scoring on just four minutes. Hemming's ball over the top found the forward, but he lifted over the bar. The striker had another big opportunity 15 minutes later, but he couldn't get a proper connection on the ball which allowed Gordon to gather. In between, Hemming pulled off a big save when he was down low to push away a powerful strike from Elton Kabangu.
Saints hit the front on 23 minutes when Mandron opened the scoring from close-range. Mark O'Hara's effort was pushed away by Gordon, but only into the path of Mandron who tucked into the net.
Olusanya had a chance to double the Buddies advantage two minutes after the restart when he was sent in the clear by O'Hara. Coming in off the left, the forward made his way into the box before firing wide from an angle. Hearts had a big opportunity three minutes later when Blair Spittal curled just over the bar from 20 yards.
John was agonisingly close to securing our place in the last eight with a powerful low drive that Gordon was down brilliantly to touch wide. There were huge shouts for a St Mirren penalty from the resulting corner when Beni Baningime handled inside the box, but the VAR check said no.
How Saints would be left to rue that decision with Hearts drawing level almost immediately after. The Buddies defence couldn't clear their lines and that allow substitute Nieuwenhof to equalise. The away side almost won in at the death when Wilson managed to send Kabangu clear on goal. The Hearts forward rounded Hemming and looked to tuck his shot into the net only for Caolan Boyd-Munce to slide in to stop it crossing the line.
Both sides had a chance each in extra-time. In the first period, Marcus Fraser saw a strike from the edge of the area take a deflection and go just wide while Penrice saw a free-kick brilliantly tipped over the bar by Hemming.
Hearts won the toss and went first in the shoot-out. James Wilson scored his emphatically, while Gordon saved Smyth's effort to give Hearts an early advantage. They doubled that advantage when Kenneth Vargas squeezed one by Hemming before Scott had his attempt saved. Jorge Grant made it 3-0 despite Hemming coming close to saving. Evan Mooney got Saints on the scoresheet with a brilliant effort to keep the Buddies in it. Gerald Taylor had a chance to win it for the visitors but Hemming saved. Marcus Fraser then sent Gordon the wrong way to reduce the deficit. But Penrice fired home his attempt to send Hearts into the last eight.
Full-Time: St Mirren 1-1 Hearts (Hearts win 4-2 on penalties)
St Mirren: Hemming, Fraser, Gogic, R.Taylor, Alebiosu (Bwomono 70), Phillips (Kenny 111), Boyd-Munce (Smyth 90), O'Hara (c) (Kiltie 90), John, Olusanya (Mooney 90+2), Mandron (Scott 110)
Subs Not Used: Urminsky, Oseni
Hearts: Gordon, Penrice, McCart, Neilson (Steinwender 52), Forrester (G.Taylor 83), Baningime, Devlin (Wilson 63), Spittal (Nieuwenhof 83), Shankland (Grant 105), Forrest (Kartum 63), Kabangu (Vargas 105)
Subs Not Used: Clark
Referee: Don Robertson
Assistant Referee: Graeme Stewart
Assistant Referee: Ross Macleod
Fourth Official: Lloyd Wilson
VAR: Andrew Dallas
Attendance: 4,611
