Dunfermline sent Hibernian tumbling out of the Scottish Gas Scottish Cup after the unfortunate Miguel Chaiwa scored an own goal to make it 1-0 to the William Hill Championship club in stoppage time.
Kieron Ngwenya’s header from a Matty Todd corner hit the back of the Zambia midfielder before rolling into the net.
Both teams had chances either side of the break but top-flight Hibs were left to rue two big missed opportunities that were passed up by Kieron Bowie and Thibault Klidje.
Pars manager Neil Lennon lapped up the full-time celebrations with his players after taking the scalp of the team he managed for two and a half years.
East End Park was packed with over 4,000 Hibs fans who made the short journey over the Forth.
They watched their team create the first attempt at goal but Rocky Bushiri’s header from a Jordan Obita cross took a deflection before easily being collected by Deniz Mehmet.
At the other end Pars defender Nurudeen Abdulai then looped a harmless header on to the roof of the net.
There was little between the teams during the early jostling, with the Pars making life difficult with their setup out of possession.
Hibs captain Joe Newell was handed his first start since December 2024 and the midfielder saw plenty of the ball early on as he kept his team ticking over.
Pars goalkeeper Mehmet was called into action again to palm away a Jamie McGrath delivery that looked like it was sneaking into the top corner.
There was a blow for Hibs in the 35th minute when dynamic midfielder Josh Mulligan hobbled off injured, Chaiwa coming on as his replacement.
It was a game that lacked any real flow but stopper Mehmet then got the better of Hibs marksman Bowie in a one-on-one duel before the break.
The Scotland striker was sent free by Junior Hoilett but his shot hit the legs of Mehmet.
Dunfermline had a spring in their step at the start of the second period and came close to opening the scoring.
Andrew Tod ran on to Zak Rudden’s knockdown before unleashing a fierce drive that was beaten away by keeper Rafa Sallinger.
Rudden kept the move alive but his pass for the striker was just out of reach inside the six-yard box.
Dunfermline kept the pressure up but Hibs weathered the storm and forced Mehmet into a save at the other end.
Jeremiah Chilokoa-Mullen’s defensive header fell straight to Hoilett and the Canada striker’s fizzing half-volley from the corner of the box was tipped over by Mehmet.
The visitors began to step up their pressure and Klidje should have put Hibs ahead in the 75th minute but his header from six yards out from an Obita cross was straight at Mehmet.
But it was Dunfermline that clinched a dramatic late winner. After Sallinger tipped a Ngenywa effort over the bar, the Pars defender was involved in the decisive goal.
Ngwenya got on the end of another Todd corner and this time his header struck Chaiwa before rolling into the net.
