YABBA DABBAGH DONS

Impact sub Oday is the hero as Palestinian ace nets last-gasp winner to break the hearts of nine-man Jambos

- SCOTT MCDERMOTT AT HAMPDEN

FOR 117 minutes, they didn't half make hard work of it.

But Aberdeen finally got the job done at Hampden thanks to Oday Dabbagh's extra-time winner from close range.

The Dons toiled to get the better of 10-man Hearts in a tense Scottish Cup semi.

But when their opponents were reduced to nine near the end Dabbagh struck to book a place in the final on May 24.

Aberdeen led in the game through Pape Gueye's header but were pegged back by a Lawrence Shankland equaliser.

When Jambos defender Michael Steinwender was sent off just before half-time, Jimmy Thelin's side were expected to go on and win it comfortably.

But a dogged Hearts team looked to have secured a penalty shoot-out.

That was until Dabbagh decided the outcome and he'll now become the first Palestinian to play in a Scottish Cup Final.

For Swedish gaffer Thelin, after two semi defeats in his homeland, it will be his first showpiece next month against either Celtic or St Johnstone.

Going into this, the bookies had the Jambos favourites which might have surprised a few people on current form.

Hearts went into it having not won in three while the Dons were unbeaten in their last six.

The truth was the tie turned out to be tighter than two coats of paint. To be fair, Neil Critchley's side made the more impressive start.