A freakish stoppage-time own goal by Hibernian’s Miguel Chaiwa has put second tier Dunfermline Athletic into the last 16 of the Scottish Cup at the expense of their top-flight visitors.
After a courageous display from the hosts at a packed East End Park, the Fife club stole victory at the death with a scrappy winner.
Kieran Ngwenya’s header from a Matty Todd corner rebounded off the back of Chaiwa and trundled over the line sparking wild scenes in the stands and putting the Championship club into Sunday’s draw.
A drab first half featured little goalmouth action as Hibs forward Kieron Bowie failed to convert the only clear chance.
The Scotland international found himself through on goal with only the goalkeeper to beat, but his delayed effort was saved by Deniz Mehmet.
Despite the absence of a goal until the dying embers, the second half was much-improved, with the hosts enjoying their best spell immediately after the restart.
Andrew Tod’s rasping half volley was pushed wide by Raphael Sallinger, before Zak Rudden came within centimetres of getting on the end of Todd’s low cross.
With 15 minutes left to play, Thibault Klidje headed the ball straight at Mehmet from six yards out but David Gray’s side failed to find any further clear sights of goal and are left with only the Premiership to focus on in the remainder of the season.
This looked like being a tricky cup tie for Hibs, and Neil Lennon’s Dunfermline more than matched their opposition on the day.
Although this was the Fife side’s first competitive game of 2026 after a series of postponements, it was the visitors who were carrying a lethargy.
Gray’s side were pedestrian and lacked conviction. Lennon’s men were industrious and ruthless.
Perhaps the Pars were lifted by the sell-out crowd, presence of the TV cameras, or the thought of an upset, but Hibs did not rise to the occasion.
Ultimately, the 2016 winners failed to navigate an away cup tie against a former club hero in the same way they did against Scott Brown’s Ayr United last year, as Gray’s former manager Lennon taught his old team a lesson.
Dunfermline Athletic manager Neil Lennon: “My back three were fantastic, as was my goalkeeper.
“It had 1-0 written all over it and thankfully we were on the right end of it. When a game is as tight as that, you need to make set-plays count.
“I think we can play better but we’re looking forward to the next round.”
Hibernian head coach David Gray: “I can’t stand here and say we fully deserved the win. I can talk about chances we missed and decisions, but it doesn’t really matter.
“The reality is we’re out of the cup and that’s not good enough for this football club.
“I mean that with the greatest respect to Dunfermline. Congratulations to them, I think they deserved to go through.”
Dunfermline host Championship leaders St Johnstone in their first league game of 2026 next Saturday, 24 January (15:00 GMT).
Hibs also return to league action on Saturday, they visit John McGlynn’s high-flying Falkirk (15:00).
