Hearts 2-1 Partick Thistle: Clare spot kick sends Hearts into Scottish Cup semis

Sean Clare's penalty proved decisive as Hearts overcame Partick Thistle to clinch a Scottish Cup semi-final against Inverness.

Championship strugglers Thistle stunned their hosts early on as Scott McDonald tapped in the opener.

But Uche Ikpeazu, Hearts' standout player on the night, thumped home a quick equaliser.

Clare then converted a first-half penalty, with Ikpeazu later having a second spot-kick saved.

Much like the 1-1 draw at Firhill last week, Thistle exerted late pressure and had two penalty appeals. The second, in injury time, looked strong when Christophe Berra appeared to clip Miles Story but referee Bobby Madden waved away the frantic appeals.

Hearts clearly meant business here after the frustration of being taken to a replay despite dominating last week.

They confidently fizzed the ball about on the sodden surface and almost grabbed a terrific opener, Ben Garuccio's 20-yard free-kick being clawed away from the top corner by Conor Hazard.

But Gary Caldwell's team were no pushovers and their ability to play their way out of trouble is a trademark of his management.

The Championship side, who are second bottom in the league, grew into the game and stunned Tynecastle with a well-worked opener.

Craig Slater did the spadework out wide, skinning Clare and lofting over a cross that Steven Saunders met with a header which Bobby Zlamal could only parry to McDonald who couldn't miss.

Hearts might have panicked. Instead, their response was swift and impressive as Ikpeazu left the keeper helpless with a thumping shot that flew in at the near post.

Towering striker Ikpeazu was the focal point of all his side's best play and his physicality a constant menace to the visitors.

The goal settled Caig Levein's men and they were soon in front after a bad blunder in the visitors' defence.

Saunders should have dealt with a harmless through ball but left it for Hazard. Jake Mulraney nipped in on the defender's blindside to beat the keeper to the ball only to be hacked down. Clare did the rest from the spot.

Hearts could have had another penalty after the break when Ikpeazu tumbled under a Steven Anderson challenge, but did get one soon after when Blair Spittal was harshly penalised for a foul on Ikpeazu.

The former Cambridge forward stepped up himself but his weak penalty was saved low to his right by Hazard.

The Premiership side bossed the second half and had a couple of chances to earn breathing space, but had a big let-off right at the end when Berra's challenge on Storey brought him to the deck.

No award came, with the full-time whistle following moments later.

BBC Scotland's Brian McLauchlin at Tynecastle

The wind and rain whirling around Tynecastle may have dented the attendance for this Scottish Cup quarter-final replay, but the near 11,000 crowd were thoroughly entertained on a brutal night in the capital.

Credit must go to both sets of players who gave their all in the appalling conditions.

Very few football fans in Scotland knew who Uche Ikpeazu was at the start of the season but the striker has made just about as big an impact as his mighty frame.

His strength is phenomenal and regardless of the quality of defenders he comes up against they will certainly know they are in a game.

Hearts now have the supposed "easier" route to the final but if Craig Levein's side give Inverness Caley Thistle a sniff of a chance then John Robertson will have his players primed to take full advantage.

For Gary Caldwell his message to his side is to replicate their performances in the Championship and steer themselves clear of a second successive relegation battle.