Tynecastle Defeat for the Terrors | Dundee United Football Club
· unknown author · 2026-08-09 · nguồn gốc
The Terrors suffered a first William Hill Premiership defeat of the season as Hearts claimed a 4-0 victory at Tynecastle Park on Sunday afternoon.
Jim Goodwin made one change from the side that faced Rangers on the opening weekend, with Daniel Bennie handed his first start for the club in place of Zac Sapsford. Hearts, meanwhile, brought Calvin Miller into the side at left-back as Stuart Findlay was serving a suspension.
The hosts made the perfect start, taking the lead after just four minutes when Emmanuel Agyei was dispossessed in midfield, allowing Hearts to break forward. Claudio Braga slipped the ball into Renaud, who found the net from distance beyond Jack Walton.
Hearts continued to apply pressure and, following a VAR review, were awarded a penalty when Daniel Bennie was adjudged to have pulled his man inside the box. Calvin Miller stepped up to double the advantage from the spot after 12 minutes.
United gradually settled into the contest and began to enjoy more possession. Dylan Tait was at the heart of much of the visitors' positive play, threading an excellent pass into Jesse Randall before the Hearts goalkeeper raced from his line to clear the danger.
Josh Rawlins twice found space down the right, while Bennie almost fashioned an opening after meeting Randall's cross at the back post and knocking it down for Rose, whose effort led to a corner.
The visitors also threatened from a well-worked set-piece just after the half-hour mark. Tait's delivery found Michael Forbes, who headed the ball back across goal for Rose, but the striker's effort was again blocked and put behind for a corner.
The gaffer introduced Zac Sapsford at the break and almost made the ideal start to the second period, with the substitute immediately involved as Rose was denied inside the area.
The Terrors continued to ask questions, appealing unsuccessfully for a penalty after neat interplay between Rose and Sapsford. However, Hearts extended their lead on 56 minutes as Braga finished off a swift counter-attack through the middle, sorting his feet out quickly in the area after an initial heavy touch.
Further changes saw Medhi Mergham making his competitive debut, with Idjesse Metsoko Neil Farrugia and Pan Camará being introduced as we searched for a route back into the contest. Hearts struck again midway through the second half when Joshua McPake exchanged passes with Braga before finishing confidently to make it four.
There were flashes of encouragement for the visitors late on. Tait again picked out Mergham with an incisive pass, although the move was halted by an offside flag, while another dangerous Tait free-kick almost created an opening for Metsoko at the back post.
Hearts 4 (Renaud 4’, Miller 12’ (pen), Braga 56’, McPake 67’)
Dundee United 0
3pm Sunday 9 August 2026
Tynecastle Park
William Hill Premiership
Attendance: 18,602
Teamlines
HEARTS
Starting XI: Reus, McCart, McEntee, Miller, Braga, Renaud, McPake, Spittal (c), Altena, Kerjoto, ba-sy
Subs: Fulton, Borchgrevink, Kabore, Gendouz, Wilson, Magnusson, Samson-Kamara, Mato, Mendy
DUNDEE UNITED
Starting XI: Walton, Esselink, Ševelj, Tait (c), Ferry, Agyei, Rose, Forbes, Randall, Rawlins, Bennie
Subs: Amissah, Iovu, Graham, Merghem, Camara, Sapsford, Eskesen, Farrugia, Metsoko
Next Up
The focus now switches to cup action next weekend as the Terrors host Celtic in the Last 16 of the Premier Sports Cup at the CalForth Construction Arena. The tie gets underway at 5.45pm and will be shown live on Premier Sports.
Click Here to purchase your Match Tickets!