Hearts 3 Dundee 1
By Dundeefc.net
April 25 2002
Hearts handed Dundee their first defeat of the season thanks to a crazy spell early in the first half. Dundee left Tynecastle empty handed despite controlling the game for large periods and camped inside the Hearts box for virtually the whole of the second half.
Hearts 3(Cameron 12, Wales 13 & 17)
DUNDEE 1(Nemsadze 86)
Attendance: 12,259
Referee: Kevin Toner
Subs: Milne (for Garrido 73)Mathers, Coyne, Robertson, Fatello
Sent Off:
Hearts:-
Dundee: -
Booked:
Hearts:-
Dundee: Nemsadze, Caballeo, Carranza
Hearts handed Dundee their first defeat of the season thanks to a crazy spell early in the first half.
Three goals in a six-minute spell killed the game as a contest and ensured Hearts kept up their 100 percent home record.
Dundee came to Tynecastle with plaudits ringing in their ears after a great start to the season, but Hearts took the points. However, there was an early warning of what was to follow when Fulton set up a chance for Cameron, but the Hearts midfielder pulled his shot wide.
The same combination brought Hearts the first goal after just 12 minutes.Dundee were caught napping as Fulton took a quick free-kick and the unmarked Cameron gratefully slammed a 16-yard half-volley past Jamie Langfield.
Before Dundee had time to recover Hearts hit them with a second goal within a minute.
Walter Del Rio made a mess of his clearance and the ball broke off Simmons who threaded the ball through to Wales.
Wales carefully chose his spot in the top corner of the net to put Hearts 2-0 in front.
Dundee were caught out again in the 17th minute when they failed to pick up McKenna from a Juanjo free-kick and the towering Canadian steered the ball across goal for Wales to nab the second of the game.
Dundee tried to get back at Hearts, but frequently fell into the offside trap and fell foul of the linesman's flag on no fewer than nine occasions in the first half.
Dundee were restricted to efforts from distance and Beto Carranza and Fabian Caballero both went close with low shots from outside the penalty area.
Referee Kevin Toner lost control of the proceedings five minutes from the break after Juanjo had fallen to the ground after an off-the-ball incident with Walter Del Rio.
As many as 16 players were involved in the fracas that followed but, remarkably, Mr Toner took no action after consulting his stand-side linesman.
Hearts almost cashed in on the disruption and Juanjo sent a header narrowly wide after persistent wing play from the excellent Flogel.
Dundee took a firmer grip on things after half time, but Hearts defended in depth and frustrated them at every turn.
Beto Carranza lashed a 25-yard volley just wide of the post and then Fabian Caballero saw his shot deflected inches over the cross bar off Pressley.
Georgi Nemsadze then worked himself an opening at the edge of the box, but his low shot found only the side netting.
It was however Georgi Nemsadze who gave Dundee some consolation four minutes from time when he carved out a chance for himself and beat Niemi with a carefully placed shot.
Niemi had been a virtual spectator, but then produced an excellent one-handed save to prevent Juan Sara making the scoreline more respectable for Dundee.