Luckless Daniel Oyegoke’s own goal in the dying moments of the match handed Viktoria Plzen a narrow 1-0 victory over Hearts in the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie at the Doosan Arena. Despite sending their fans into a frenzy, Plzen struggled to find clear-cut opportunities, while Hearts appeared poised to secure a goalless draw to take back to Tynecastle for the return leg.
However, deep into seven minutes of added time, a cross from home substitute Cadu was inadvertently diverted into the net by Oyegoke, who had entered the match as a substitute. This unfortunate turn of events deprives the Edinburgh side of an opportunity to head home with a draw, yet they remain optimistic about overturning the deficit in their upcoming match.
The night also marked a significant milestone for 41-year-old goalkeeper Craig Gordon, who made his 23rd European appearance for Hearts, breaking previous records held by club legends Steven Pressley and Henry Smith. Gordon showcased his skill with crucial saves throughout the match.
Manager Steven Naismith opted for a tactical shift, making five changes from the squad that suffered a defeat in the Premier Sports Cup against Falkirk. The team adopted a three-at-the-back formation. Captain Lawrence Shankland, alongside Frankie Kent, Kye Rowles, Jorge Grant, and Cammy Devlin, faced pressure early in the match as Plzen pushed for dominance.
Gordon’s reaction save in the 18th minute denied Milan Havel from scoring, and a subsequent shot from Pavel Sulc was cleared off the line by Grant. As the first half progressed, Hearts found momentum with Rowles orchestrating an attack for Kenneth Vargas, although penalty claims were dismissed by the referee following a challenge from the home goalkeeper.
Despite Hearts showing signs of resilience and creativity during the match, they were unable to find the back of the net. Gordon made vital saves to keep Hearts in the contest, but ultimately, the acclaimed keeper’s efforts were overshadowed by Oyegoke’s last-minute misfortune.
Hearts are now focused on the second leg, believing that a comeback is well within their reach as they prepare to take on Plzen at Tynecastle.
