Hearts concluded their Champions League campaign with a 2-0 home defeat to Sturm Graz, resulting in a 6-0 aggregate loss. The second-round qualifier saw the Edinburgh side’s European journey end, marking their heaviest aggregate defeat in a two-legged European tie.
The team, managed by Wouter Vrancken, had faced a 4-0 deficit from the first leg in Austria. Ahead of the second leg, Vrancken had expressed the need for his team to be “almost perfect” to achieve a “magical, historic night” at Tynecastle.
Match Overview
Despite an initial positive start that offered some hope to the home supporters, Sturm Graz eventually took control of the match. The Austrian side secured their comfortable aggregate triumph with two goals in the second half, which also marked Hearts’ first home defeat in 15 months.
Hearts made three changes to their starting lineup from the first leg. Jordi Altena and captain Stephen Kingsley were introduced into the defence, while Sabri Guendouz made his first start in support of striker Claudio Braga. Vrancken noted the importance of increasing efficiency, particularly in both offensive and defensive boxes, after reviewing the first-leg performance.
Early in the match, Hearts showed promise. Malachi Fagan-Walcott glanced a header just wide from a free-kick in the ninth minute. Shortly after, Blair Spittal had a shot blocked from the edge of the box and later fired over the crossbar from a similar position.
Sturm Graz had an early opportunity in the 16th minute when goalkeeper Alexander Schwolow, in his final appearance for Hearts before joining Mainz, made a save to deny Szymon Wlodarczyk after a clearance by Fagan-Walcott. Seedy Jatta also had a chance, blasting into the side netting in the 24th minute, and Schwolow made another save to thwart Jatta before Jacob Hodl’s rebound effort was cleared off the line by Kingsley.
A goal for Sturm Graz in the 26th minute, scored by Jatta, was disallowed after a VAR check determined a foul on Harry Milne. Hearts continued to press, with Calvin Miller’s cut-back being cleared by the visitors in the 42nd minute.
Second Half and European Future
The decisive goals for Sturm Graz came in the second half. In the 64th minute, Simon Seidl scored with an angled strike that went past Schwolow and in off the far post, following a flick-on from captain Jon Gorenc. Four minutes later, Emran Soglo added a second goal, bundling the ball in after his initial effort was blocked by Schwolow.
Hearts also had a moment in the second half when Oisin McEntee’s header required a clearance off the line to keep the score level at that point. Despite these efforts, the Edinburgh side could not overcome the aggregate deficit.
With their Champions League aspirations concluded, Hearts will now enter the Europa League third qualifying round. They are set to face the winner of the tie between Benfica and St Gallen. St Gallen currently holds a 2-1 lead from the first leg of that fixture.
Hearts will begin their Scottish Premiership campaign with an away match against Aberdeen on Saturday.
The team will also be without Stephen Kingsley and Alexandros Kyziridis due to injuries.
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Source: bbc.co.uk
