Aberdeen snatches dramatic late win over Hearts
Aberdeen claimed a dramatic 2-1 comeback win over Hearts of Midlothian in stoppage-time at Pittodrie to start its Scottish Premiership season on a positive note.
Hearts had gone ahead on 35 minutes when Oisin McEntee hit the back of the net from six yards, and the visitors held that one-goal lead right up to the 90th minute.
Indeed, Pierre Landry Kabore could have sealed all three points when he struck a swerving effort at goal with 20 minutes remaining, but Aberdeen goalkeeper Marius Muller did well to watch it all the way before awkwardly turning it away for a corner.
It was a free-kick late in the game that allowed Aberdeen to sneak in an equaliser, Lewis Mayo getting the final touch after Stuart Armstrong's delivery into the box had been headed back in front of goal by Dan Happe.
An things got even better for the Dons in the fifth minute of stoppage-time when Stuart Findlay got in a tangle while desperately trying to stop Toyosi Olusanya latching on to a ball over the top, dragging the striker down to concede a penalty, and earning himself a red card in the process.
Kevin Nisbet made no mistake from the spot to give Aberdeen all three points after it looked to have lost the opening game of its season.
"If you're going to win a game, it's a good way to do it," Aberdeen boss Stephen Robinson said.
"We certainly showed the character and the fight that I didn't believe was here last year and certainly that was a real plus for me."
For Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken, the defeat was hard to take.
"We give it away in five minutes," he said.
"We had to be smarter. We were going in attack with too many people there instead of keeping control and managing the counter, especially when you are 1-0 ahead.
"When the next game is on again, you have to switch again because you cannot go with these feelings again in the next game. We have to be ready and fully focused again."
