HOW HEARTS STUNNED RANGERS ICONS

MAY 16, 1998

HEARTS didn’t just overcome a Rangers side in the 1998 Scottish Cup final, they defeated a team of legends who had been nine-in-a-row heroes. Having missed out on ten, this was billed as a last hurrah for Walter Smith’s galaxy of stars, including Ally McCoist, Brian Laudrup and Richard Gough — but the Tynecastle men quickly showed there would be no room for sentiment at Celtic Park. Colin Cameron’s early penalty set the tone before Stephane Adam’s 52nd-minute goal put the Jambos on the path to glory. McCoist pulled one back with nine minutes to go after coming on as a sub — sparking the inevitable cavalry charge — but Jim Jefferies’ men held firm and the maroon hordes erupted in jubilation at the final whistle.

HEARTS: Rousset; McPherson, Weir, Ritchie, Naysmith; Salvatori, McCann, Fulton, Cameron; Flogel, Adam (Hamilton 78). RANGERS: Goram; Porrini, Amoruso, Gough, Bjorklund, Stensaas (McCoist 45); Gattuso, Ferguson, McCall (Durrant 68); Durie, Laudrup.