Hearts 1-1 Aberdeen: Both sides extend unbeaten starts after frantic draw
- Published
Funso Ojo's (right) near-post finish earned Aberdeen a point
Hearts and Aberdeen continued their unbeaten Scottish Premiership starts and joined Hibernian at the top on seven points after a frantic draw at a raucous Tynecastle.
After the first half produced just one shot on target, Liam Boyce smashed in the 56th-minute opener from the spot.
However, Aberdeen's Funso Ojo levelled the contest 15 minutes later.
The result means the Dons jump to second on goal difference, while Hearts move to third.
Despite fighting back for a point, the result extends the visitors' winless run in Gorgie to seven games.
The game lacked any kind of sustained control, but was full of effort and endeavour as the 17,000-strong crowd celebrated every crunching challenge like a goal.
But the Dons almost silenced the home support when Lewis Ferguson's first-time pass found Christian Ramirez in the box.
With Craig Gordon rushing out, the Hearts keeper was able to deny the American striker with a key save.
At the other end, Josh Ginnelly saw a deflected cross crash into the near-post side netting.
Rivalry and tension was forgotten in the 26th minute when Tynecastle rose to pay tribute to ex-Hearts skipper Marius Zaliukas, who lost his battle with motor neurone disease aged 36 last year.
Hearts should have had their first shot on target - and the opening goal - early in the second period when former Dons winger Gary Mackay-Steven pounced on a failed catch by Joe Lewis, but scuffed his finish wide.
But he made for it just minutes later when his touch past Declan Gallagher resulted in the Scotland centre-back tripping Mackay-Steven, allowing Boyce to rattle in the resulting penalty.
Aberdeen responded well and grabbed the equaliser after substitute Dean Campbell latched on to a loose ball on the left.
The midfielder drilled in a low cross and Ojo powered in at the front post to poke home and ensure both sides claimed a point from the pulsating encounter.
Man of the match - Beni Baningime
The former Everton man (left) looks a real find for Hearts, restoring calm to the midfield and very rarely losing the ball
What did we learn?
Firstly, we learned maroon apparently clashes with red and navy blue.
Aberdeen had to play in last season's away kit due a potential clash with Hearts' home strip. The alternative was the Dons playing in the home side's away kit. Yeah, like that would have gone down well.
All joking aside, Stephen Glass will be happy he saw a response from his side after going a goal down. The Aberdeen boss would have been fearing a third consecutive loss when Boyce opened the scoring, but his players dug in for a precious point.
As for Hearts, if they can get that backing from their fans at every chance, Tynecastle will be a daunting place to travel to once again.
What they said?
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson: "To go 1-0 up and lose a goal, there's a bit of disappointment there.
"Aberdeen put a high press on us second half. We switched off for the goal, but it was a fantastic ball in."
Aberdeen manager Stephen Glass: "It was a proper game of football. Two teams desperate to win and I think we got the minimum we deserved.
"We were pushing for a second. We looked more likely to score a winner. It's a good point. A lot of teams will come here and not get anything."
What's next?
Aberdeen turn their attention to the Europa Conference League on Thursday (19:45 BST) as they aim to overturn a one-goal deficit at home to Qarabag for a place in the group stage.
Hearts are back in Scottish Premiership action next Saturday when they visit Dundee United (15:00).