Sadly, Daniel Oyegok’s personal purpose late in second-half stoppage time gave Victory Plzen a slender 1-0 win over Hearts within the Europa League play-offs on the Doosan Enviornment.
The house facet might have had extra clear-cut probabilities within the first leg within the Czech Republic, nevertheless it seems like Steven Naismith’s facet will accept a 0-0 draw with Tynecastle in subsequent week’s second sport.
Nevertheless, within the closing minute of what was removed from an exhilarating match in six video games, residence substitute Kadu crossed to the again publish for Oyegok to show the ball into his personal web from shut vary. Later substitute Gerard Taylor got here on.
Nevertheless, with simply over 90 minutes on the clock, the Gorges would have their likelihood to show the rating round in Edinburgh.
In a historic evening, 41-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon made his twenty third European look for Hearts, surpassing the report of twenty-two held by Steven Pressley and Henry Smith, and made A key save.
Naismith made 5 modifications to the facet that misplaced to Championship facet Falkirk within the Premier League Sports activities Cup on the weekend, in addition to making three modifications on the again.
Captain Laurence Shankland, Frankie Kent, Kai Rawls, Jorge Grant and Kami Devlin all began, however quickly, like the remainder of the Tynecastle squad All the identical, they discover themselves at an obstacle.
Within the 18th minute, Gordon reacted properly and saved Milan Javier’s header on the again publish.
A few minute later he was overwhelmed by Pavel Sulc’s 16-yard shot, however defender Grant cleared the ball a yard from purpose.
Within the thirty fifth minute, Erik Jirka’s lengthy move from the left was met by Javier’s header on the far publish, however Hearts had been in good spirits as the primary half drew to an in depth.
4 minutes later, defender Rawls assisted attacker Kenneth Vargas, however his lob went previous Marian Turverden, however the ball went large of the purpose and was saved half-heartedly by the house group’s goalkeeper. The penalty request was ignored by referee Sven Jablonski.
Edinburgh stepped up their assault, with each Shankland’s pictures saved by Turverden, and Naismith and his males obtained additional encouragement heading into the break, with Vargas beginning the second half A shot went over the crossbar.
Nevertheless, Gordon as soon as once more needed to save Sulc’s close-range shot after Victoria’s Lukas Cerv drilled into the Jambos penalty space.
Pilsen tried to pressure a purpose however Hearts held on.
Within the 78th minute, Sulk’s 16-yard shot hit defender Stephen Kingsley and took a nook kick, however was defended once more.
However all Hearts’ good work was undoing by Oyegok within the closing seconds, though Hearts believed the sport was removed from over.