UEL: Hearts miss out on commendable draw
Viktoria Plzeň 1 - 0 Hearts
After overcoming a shaky start and edging towards a commendable goalless draw in the Czech Republic, Hearts' hopes were dashed when Daniel Oyegoke accidentally turned a late cross into his own net.
Plzen's Cadu delivered a dangerous ball into the box, which caught Oyegoke off guard. The Hearts defender could only watch in dismay as the ball struck his thigh and sailed into the corner of the net.
It was a bitterly frustrating conclusion, especially as Hearts had grown into the match, standing toe-to-toe with their more seasoned Czech opponents, who were competing in Europe for the 15th consecutive season.
Lawrence Shankland came close with two shots from the edge of the box just before half-time, and Kenneth Vargas missed two opportunities when a cooler head was needed.
However, solid goalkeeping and resilient defending kept Hearts in the game and nearly secured them a vital draw.
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Craig Gordon, now 41 and Hearts' record appearance holder in European football, made crucial saves, denying Milan Havel early on and then Pavel Sulc from a similar angle after the break.
Jorge Grant also played his part, clearing a goal-bound shot from Sulc off the line, while centre-backs Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley made vital blocks.
A draw would have put Hearts in a strong position to reach the main stage of Europe’s second-tier competition for the first time in 20 years, but Oyegoke's misfortune has made their task slightly more challenging.
Nevertheless, Hearts will give everything in the return leg at a raucous Tynecastle next Thursday, with the reassurance that they have at least secured a place in the Conference League for the second time in three seasons, should they fall short.
A closer look at what happened
Hearts arrived in the Czech Republic without a win in their first three games and still smarting from a painful League Cup exit at the hands of second-tier Falkirk.
There had been criticism about excessive rotation and tactical adjustments. Undeterred, Steven Naismith made five changes and reverted to a back three. After weathering an early storm in which Plzen dominated possession, Hearts found their footing.
The returning Kent was outstanding in defence, while the midfield trio of Malachi Boateng, Cammy Devlin, and Jorge Grant began to gain control and create openings.
Vargas found himself in promising positions but lacked the composure to deliver a crucial goal.
Overall, it was an encouraging performance against a team that had only lost to Real Madrid, Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Bayern Munich at home in Europe since 2017. Plzen had also conceded just one goal in their five league matches this season.
This only adds to the frustration of Oyegoke's error, as Plzen's clear anxiety at the 0-0 scoreline showed just how much they wanted to take a 0-0 draw to Edinburgh.
Now that they have it, they will be confident, but with Tynecastle behind them and having seen their opponents up close, Hearts will not shy away from the challenge next week.
