Hearts’ hopes of advancing to the group stages of the Europa League hang in the balance as the Jambos took a narrow 1-0 defeat against Viktoria Plzen back to Edinburgh.
In an entertaining contest at both ends of the park, the men in maroon put in a gutsy display of defending and attacking verve in Czechia, with only an unfortunate Oyegoke own goal 40 seconds from time securing a win for the Czechs.
It's all to play for when the sides meet again at Tynecastle Park in a week’s time.
Steven Naismith rang the changes from the side that slipped to defeat at Falkirk, with Craig Gordon taking the gloves in stead of the injured Zander Clark, whilst Frankie Kent returned to the back after recovering from a toe injury.
Stephen Kingsley’s header over the bar inside the first minute was Hearts’ best clear cut chance in the opening stanza, with the Czechs growing quickly into the game with the backing of a boisterous home support.
Craig Gordon, on the night he became the club’s record appearance holder in European competition, produced a fantastic save to deny Havel at his near post after a cross from deep cleared the Hearts defence.
Jorge Grant was up next with more heroics, a cutback from the right found Sulc who had Gordon beaten before Grant stepped in with a tremendous clearance to keep Plzen at bay.
The Jambos were not without their moments of magic and a delightful chested ball from Cammy Devlin down into the path of Lawrence Shankland on the cusp of half time saw a thunderous volley narrowly evade the goal.
The game continued to thunder both ways, with Kalvach and Vargas both seeing chances go astray for each side respectively.
Craig Gordon was again called into action on 53 minutes as he produced a smart stop with his feet to deny Plzen.
It looked as though Hearts were about to take a very creditable draw into the second leg, but an unfortunate own goal for Daniel Oyegoke saw the ball accidentally diverted into the back of the net 40 seconds from time.
A frustrating end to the evening in Plzen but all to play for in Gorgie next week.
Plzen: Tvdron, Hranac, Cerv, Kopic (Mosquera 74’), Jemelka, Kalvach, Havel (Cadu 60’), Sulc, Jirka (Bello 60’), Dweh, Vasulin (Vydra 74’)
Subs: Jedlicka, Wiegele, Sene, Ricardinho, Vyrdra, Sojka, Bello, Mosquera, Panos, Mika, Sloncik
Hearts: Gordon, Kent, Kingsley, Grant (Spittal 75’), Shankland (Boyce 80’), Devlin, Rowles, Boateng, Penrice, Vargas (Oda 89’), Taylor (Oyegoke 75’)
Subs: Fulton, Halkett, Oyegoke, McKay, Oda, Spittal, Forrest, Dhanda, Pollock, Tait, Boyce, Drammeh
Attendance: 10,506
