Brora Rangers hadn’t played a game since early January
The Brora Rangers delivered one of the biggest shocks in Scottish Cup history when the Highland League champions beat Hearts in the second round.
Christophe Berra appeared to have saved the championship leaders blush by canceling Jordan MacRae’s early opener within 20 minutes.
But Martin MacLean responded five minutes later to play a home game against Stranraer in the third round.
Hearts had been beaten as a finalist for two consecutive seasons against Celtic.
This time they lost to a part-time team whose league season has been suspended since January due to the Covid-19 lockdown.
Steven Mackay, Brora manager, told BBC Scotland: “In a normal season this would be an astronomical result, but you throw in the circumstances surrounding this game.”
“We haven’t played a game since the first week of January, we had five training sessions and one friendly and that was it. We had absolutely no right to win this game. I’m just so privileged to be the manager of a game like this.” an incredible team. “
Hearts lead Scotland’s second division with 16 points and went into nine games without a loss, while Brora only made three league games all season.
However, Mackay said Brora “had a clue that we could do something special tonight”.
“It’s going to be a surprise to most people, but internally to ourselves, not really,” he said. “I said in the locker room, I got the weird feeling we could do something and it’s just an incredible feeling. It’s the greatest moment of my football career as a player and manager and I’m just so proud of the players and the achievement . “
Mackay praised his players for the way they responded to Hearts equalizing.
“Jordan Macrae gave us the goal and showed the team’s confidence,” he said. “They have a knack for producing when the odds are against them.
“These players are amazing characters right now and I wasn’t surprised that we went to the park and scored again.”
Midfielder MacLean remembered his winning goal.
“But what an incredible feeling,” he said. “It hasn’t gone down and I don’t think it will take a couple of days. I’ll probably think about it all day at work tomorrow to be honest.”
Teammate MacRae pointed out that it could have been Brora’s last game of the season if they hadn’t won. The Highland League threatens to be canceled this season.
“I would face anyone as we gave Hibs a good game in the League Cup, but in the circumstances where we haven’t trained much it was a tough question and to be honest I don’t know how we did made it, “said the striker.
Incredible, phenomenal and deserved – analysis
Former Hearts midfielder Don Cowie
Absolutely deserved for Brora for the effort, the shape of the team, the team’s intent all night was incredible for a part-time team that didn’t play much football.
Hearts will obviously be disappointed that with all the possessions they had, they did not have the opportunities that they created. I can only imagine two or three parades Joe Mallan had to make.
The way Brora responded at 1-1 was phenomenal. They were just fearless. After going back on, you expected a Hearts attack, but it just never happened.
Constellations
Brora Rangers
formation 4-4-2
1Malin
12thKelly5Nicolson4thWilliamson3MacDonald
14thWagenaar6thGillespie8thMacLean19thGambling
10MacRae9MacRae
- 1Malin
- 12thKellyBooked at 45 minutes
- 5Nicolson
- 4thWilliamson
- 3MacDonaldBooked at 63 minutes
- 14thWagenaarReplaced byMacDonaldat the 82 ‘protocol
- 6thGillespie
- 8thMacLean
- 19thGamblingReplaced byMorrisonat the 65 ‘protocol
- 10MacRaeReplaced byBrindleat the 65 ‘protocol
- 9MacRae
replacement
- 7thMorrison
- 11Brindle
- 20thMacDonald
- 21Stephen
Hearts
formation 4-4-2
13thStewart
5Haring6thBerra26thHalkett3White
18thMcEneff19thIrving29chestnut17thMackay-Steven
9Gnanduillet7thWalking aid
- 13thStewart
- 5Haring
- 6thBerra
- 26thHalkett
- 3White
- 18thMcEneffReplaced byHendersonat the 59 ‘protocol
- 19thIrvingBooked at 71 minutes
- 29chestnutReplaced byBoyceat the 45 ‘protocol
- 17thMackay-StevenBooked at 76 minutes
- 9Gnanduillet
- 7thWalking aid
replacement
- 4thSouttar
- 10Boyce
- 23Zlamal
- 24Stop
- 28Popescu
- 31Henderson
- 36McGill
Live text
The game ends, Brora Rangers 2, Heart of Midlothian 1.
The second half ends, Brora Rangers 2, Heart of Midlothian 1.
Ally MacDonald (Brora Rangers) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Liam Boyce (Heart of Midlothian).
Corner, heart of Midlothian. The corner was caused by Tom Kelly.
Substitution, Brora Rangers. Gregor MacDonald replaces Björn Wagenaar.
Corner, heart of Midlothian. The corner was caused by Tom Kelly.
Corner, heart of Midlothian. The corner was caused by Colin Williamson.
Jordan MacRae (Brora Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Christophe Berra (Heart of Midlothian).
Attempt saved. Gary Mackay-Steven (Heart of Midlothian) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the lower left corner.
Corner, heart of Midlothian. The corner was created by Ally MacDonald.
Gary Mackay-Steven (Heart of Midlothian) is shown the yellow card.
Dale Gillespie (Brora Rangers) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Gary Mackay-Steven (Heart of Midlothian).
Goal! Brora Rangers 2, Heart of Midlothian 1. Martin MacLean (Brora Rangers) shot with his left foot from a difficult angle from top left to right after a set piece.
Martin MacLean (Brora Rangers) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Foul by Aidan White (Heart of Midlothian).
Handball by Euan Henderson (Heart of Midlothian).
Missed attempt. Björn Wagenaar’s left-footed shot from outside the box is a bit too high after a direct free kick.
