Hearts of Scotland’s Nigerian-born January signing, Uche Ikpeazu says he is happy to shake off a long drought in front of goal on Tuesday night and help his club make progress in the Scottish FA Cup.
Sports247.ng can report that, although he also missed a penalty in the game, a 24th minute equaliser saw Ikpeazu get his first goal since August and cancel out Scott McDonald’s early opener, as Hearts got a 2-1 victory over Partick Thistle at Tynecastle to reach the Scottish Cup semi-finals.
Ikpeazu, who missed more than four months of the season with a foot injury, later missed a penalty, but Sean Clare had already scored from the spot before the break to send Hearts to Hampden to face Jambos record goalscorer John Robertson’s Inverness side in the last four.
However, the visitors had two strong penalty shouts rejected by Bobby Madden in the closing stages as Joe Cardle and Miles Storey both went down in the box with the first claim looking like a clear foul.
Hearts full-back Ben Garuccio saw an early free-kick saved but the visiting supporters were already making the most noise on a cold, wet and windy night in Edinburgh before McDonald sent them into raptures in the 17th minute.
Craig Slater did well to stop a cross for Steven Saunders and McDonald was on hand to net the rebound from close range after Zdenek Zlamal parried the defender’s header.
Hearts’ low-key start continued until the 24th minute, when Ikpeazu received the ball 22 yards out with little danger apparent to the Jags defence, but the powerful forward made space for himself and turned and fired low past Conor Hazard.
