Oday Dabbagh scored an 118th-minute winner as Aberdeen took advantage of Hearts being reduced to nine men to reach their first Scottish Cup final since 2017.

Having already had Michael Steinwender sent off after levelling at 1-1 in the first half, Hearts lost Cammy Devlin to a second yellow card just when they looked like surviving intense pressure to take the semi-final to a penalty shoot-out.

Moments later, Dabbagh pounced to find the roof of the net from close range after Craig Gordon parried a low shot from Dante Polvara.

Lawrence Shankland had pulled Hearts level to cancel out Aberdeen's opener, which came when Papa Gueye's header struck goalkeeper Gordon and bounced in after cannoning back off the bar.

After Steinwender was dismissed for a last-man challenge on Topi Keskinen shortly before the end of the first half, Aberdeen dominated.

However, they only managed one attempt on target until substitute Dabbagh struck to ensure Jimmy Thelin's side will be in the final on 24 May against either St Johnstone or holders Celtic.

Hearts went into the game without a win in three and needing to shake off the disappointment of missing out on a top-six finish in the Premiership.

Aberdeen were unbeaten in six, but it was the Edinburgh side who started on top, with Jamie McCart lashing a shot wide from six yards.

Aberdeen eventually settled and Gueye rose unmarked to meet a corner and head in off the underside of the bar and the unfortunate Gordon.

Hearts responded through James Penrice's cross finding the unmarked Shankland, who fired powerfully through goalkeeper Dimitar Mitov's legs from 12 yards.

It looked like the game had turned again in Hearts' favour, but as Keskinen's speed looked to be taking him clear on goal, Steinwender was shown a red card by referee John Beaton for hacking the winger to the ground.

Hearts boss Neil Critchley sacrificed strikers James Wilson and Elton Kabangu at the break in anticipation of an Aberdeen onslaught.

Despite an early Gueye header and a deflected Leighton Clarkson shot both flying just wide, that failed to materialise.

Gordon saved superbly from Dabbagh's low drive, but Devlin was sent off for a foul as he looked to clear just outside his own box and, moments later, Aberdeen struck.

Hearts have struggled to beat any of the better sides in the Premiership this season, so facing a side sitting fifth was always going to be a test of Critchley's tactical guile.

The return of Shankland after two games on the bench, Wilson from suspension and Devlin into midfield looked to have done the trick as they looked to beat Aberdeen for the first time in four meetings this season.

Aberdeen's pace was, though, always going to be a threat and so it proved when Steinwender was forced to haul down Keskinen.

Critchley responded with a 5-3-1 formation similar to the shape Rangers used as their 10 men came from two down to draw at Pittodrie last weekend.

However, a lack of pace has been Hearts' Achilles heel this season and the lack of an outball proved crucial as Aberdeen's pressure eventually told and Hearts fell at the semi-final hurdle for a second season running.

Aberdeen were looking to repair the hurt of two semi-final defeats by Celtic - on penalties a year ago in this competition and a 6-0 thrashing in this season's League Cup.

Last weekend's surrendering of a two-goal lead to Rangers seemed to be weighing just as heavily as they toiled even before Hearts lost their Austrian centre-back.

At full strength, it was Hearts creating the better chances and only the speed of Shayden Morris and Keskinen on the wings sporadically threatened.

Down to 10 men and now with five at the back, Hearts snubbed out that threat and Aberdeen again lacked the guile to penetrate a packed defence.

However, Devlin's dismissal proved crucial and substitute Dabbagh's fourth goal of the season sent Aberdeen into their 17th Scottish Cup final and the chance to lift the trophy for an eighth time. It would be their first triumph in the competition in 35 years.

Aberdeen manager Jimmy Thelin: "Hearts started the game really, really well and we were under pressure. Obviously the red card helped us.

"Hearts gave everything they had to defend the goal, they had some set plays and transition so we had to be really calm and try not to make too many mistakes.

"I think the team did that really well. We had some patience and finally we scored a goal."

Aberdeen match-winner Oday Dabbagh: "It's a really incredible feeling I cannot explain. Thank you to the fans, I'm just so happy.

"It's a very important goal. I want to thank the staff and my team-mates for believing in me, they said I would finally get the goal and I did."

Aberdeen captain Graeme Shinnie: "We had to try and work something, we had a couple of chances and didn't take them.

"As a team we wanted to push and push as much as we could.

"We said before the game it didn't matter when the goal comes, we just need to get through to the final, and thankfully it came before full-time."

Hearts head coach Neil Critchley: "It really hurts. I'm gutted for the players, gutted for the supporters.

"I thought we were brilliant. The least we deserved was to take it to penalties.

"We were the better team in the first half and then to defend as well as we did for as long as we did with 10 men, I thought we showed real grit and character, not without opportunities ourselves."