Hearts emerged victorious with a 2-1 win over St Johnstone in a Scottish Premiership clash held in Perth. The match, which unfolded on a sodden pitch due to heavy rainfall, saw Hearts climb to seventh in the league table. The referee, Calum Scott, after an inspection, declared the pitch playable, allowing the game to proceed under challenging conditions.
Elton Kabangu played a pivotal role in Hearts' triumph by scoring both goals for his team. This marked Kabangu's third double for Hearts in just six starts, taking his goal tally to seven since joining on loan from Union Saint-Gilloise last month. His goals came on either side of an equalizer by St Johnstone's Adama Sidibeh, who found the net in the 53rd minute with a header at the far post, outmaneuvering Hearts' Jamie McCart.
Despite the wet conditions, the match was fiercely contested. St Johnstone fought valiantly but remained at the bottom of the table, trailing Dundee by six points. They had opportunities to change the tide, including a header from Drey Wright that was ruled offside and a close-range shot from Graham Carey that missed its mark.
Hearts' defense stood firm, with goalkeeper Craig Gordon making a crucial save to deny Sam Curtis when the match was still level at 1-1. This stunning save proved to be a game-changer, helping Hearts secure the narrow victory. The Tynecastle side had to dig deep in the closing stages to maintain their lead and fend off St Johnstone's persistent attacks.
Kabangu's performance has been a revelation since his arrival, and his contributions have been instrumental in Hearts' rise in the standings. With this win, they are now just one point behind sixth-place St Mirren, keeping them within reach of climbing further up the table.
St Johnstone, despite their efforts, could not capitalize on their chances and continue to struggle at the bottom of the league. The team showed moments of promise but ultimately fell short against a resilient Hearts side.
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