Ben Parkinson scores winning penalty as Falkirk see off Hearts in shootout

Falkirk overcame Scottish Premiership leaders Hearts 5-4 on penalties following a 1-1 draw to book their place in the fifth round of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup.

The Bairns – beaten twice by their opponents in the league this season – went ahead through substitute Ben Parkinson in the second half.

Lawrence Shankland levelled from the penalty spot to take the game into extra-time after Islam Chesnokov, who was handed his debut from the bench, was brought down in the box.

And, after Elton Kabangu was the only player to miss from the spot, it was left to Parkinson, who joined earlier this month from Newcastle, to net the winning penalty for John McGlynn’s side.

Hearts started brightly and had the Bairns on the back foot.

The first attempt at goal came from a Shankland header that landed comfortably in Scott Bain’s arms.

Greek winger Alexandros Kyziridis then fired a skidding drive from distance straight at Bain as the hosts stepped up their quest for the breakthrough.

Tomas Magnusson should have done better when he got on the end of a low Harry Milne cross, but the Icelandic midfielder stabbed his effort well wide from close range.

Falkirk found it hard to build any sustained pressure, but left-back Leon McCann at least forced goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow into a save before the break with a forceful run and shot.

Falkirk manager McGlynn made three changes at the break and brought on Ben Parkinson, Kyrell Wilson and Louie Marsh.

And those alterations helped tip the tie in the visitors’ favour, but only after they survived a major scare.

Hearts thought they had taken the lead in the 53rd minute when Magnusson bundled home a close-range effort following a scramble in the box.

But VAR reviewed the build-up and deemed the ball had struck the Hearts midfielder’s arm before he slotted home.

That gave Falkirk a lift and the away team stormed ahead in the 59th minute through January recruit Parkinson.

Full-back Filip Lissah showed Blair Spittal a clean pair of heels with a strong run into the area and his low cross into the six-yard box was tucked away by former Newcastle trainee Parkinson.

Hearts handed a long-awaited debut to Chesnokov and the Kazakhstan international won his team the penalty that brought the equaliser in 86th minute.

Chesnokov was brought down by Leon McCann as he drove into the area and Shankland slammed his spot-kick straight down the middle.

Hearts keeper Schwolow was called into action at the start of extra-time to make a superb save to keep out Calvin Miller’s shot across goal.

Both teams tired, but Falkirk looked like they had more energy, although the visitors breathed a sigh of relief when Spittal swept a free-kick just over the bar.

At the other end Schwolow kept out a Marsh shot from point-blank range.

And, after the teams could not be separated in extra-time, Falkirk finally prevailed in the shootout, with Hearts forward Kabangu the only one of 10 players to miss.