Heart of Midlothian were denied an opening-night win in the Conference League league phase as Nordsjaelland snatched a 1-1 draw at Tynecastle. Oisin McEntee's first-half goal had put the Jambos ahead, but substitute Nicklas Rojkjaer levelled in the 86th minute.
An electric atmosphere filled Tynecastle as both sides took to the pitch in front of a near-capacity crowd. The only unsold seats were amongst the modest 130 Danes, who had made the trip across.
Hearts start brightly but Danes threaten
Hearts started positively and Josh McPake looked lively and threatening. Nordsjaelland were prepared to let the home side come on to them and when the chance arose they hit with blistering pace on the turnover. Despite having all the possession, Hearts' only real early effort on goal came in the 10th minute, when Malachi Fagan-Walcott stepped in to steal the ball from the waiting striker, surged forward and fired right at keeper Andreas Hansen.
The big defender then showed his worth at the other end, deflecting Prince Amoako's shot wide and then clearing after Beau Reus, who had come for a cross and didn't get near to it. A sense of concern arose whenever Nordsjaelland broke, especially in the 23rd minute when Amoako's left-foot shot across the face came back off the post.
McEntee strikes to give Hearts the lead
That gave the home side a scare but they responded in exactly the right manner. McPake had a shot saved and Harry Milne another deflected wide. Calvin Miller curled in the corner, which Jamie McCart headed down and McEntee reacted first to stab the ball in from close range. The home sections exploded into a wall of jubilant noise and song.
Claudia Braga had another late chance, but blazed over. There was chaos from a Borchgrevink corner, which the Danes managed to clear, and then Hansen had to tip a McPake shot wide. The first half had gone exactly to plan.
Late leveller crushes Hearts hopes
Hearts began to tire and drop deeper and deeper and were inviting trouble. The home fans were aware of that and tried to rally their side from the Gorgie stands, with McEntee and many others running on fumes. Wouter Vrancken knew it and had three subs ready to come on, but Nordsjaelland levelled before he could make the changes. The Danes worked it to the end of the box and Rojkjaer managed to beat Reus in the 86th minute. It was a cruel one, but most people in the stadium could see it coming.
McEntee has spent most of his time at Hearts as a centre back, but their seemingly never-ending issues in the middle of the park thanks to injury and suspension meant he was deployed in his natural position back in the engine room alongside Laurent Mendy. While the Irishman maybe lacks the finesse of a Blair Spittal, Tom Renaud or Eduardo Ageu, he can cover the ground and physically dominate. He's also shown an eye for a goal and was quickest to react to prod the Jambos ahead in the first half. McEntee pulling up in the last ten minutes and being replaced by Jordi Altena will be a concern.
The recent Scotland debutant is in red hot form and Nordsjaelland couldn't handle him in the first 45. If he wasn't skipping past his man, he was outmuscling him and was incredibly unlucky to see a shot heading to the bottom corner brilliantly tipped wide rather than nestling in the net for 2-0. The Danes learned their lesson after the break and doubled up on the winger, who was still a threat but not as dangerous.
Nordsjaelland were fortunate to go in only one-goal down at the interval. While they had to weather a Hearts storm, their game plan was clear from the off: hit them on the break. They often found themselves on the other side of the Hearts midfield and one counter should have resulted in a goal when Prince Jnr hit the post. Some last-ditch defending and two big saves from Beau Reus kept them out in the second half.
To concede with so little time left was a gut punch. It came from sloppy play from Hearts, who had comfortable possession but JJ Williams failed to hold the ball under not a lot of pressure. Nordsjaelland worked the ball into the box and moved it to the edge of the area. Rojkjaer's shot was heading straight at Reus, but was deflected past him by Jamie McCart.
With the games to come for Hearts in the Conference League, three points here would have been huge. A trip to Mo Salah's Tranzonspor next week would have been a much easier journey with a win in the bank. It's then Thun and Monaco before Borac come to Gorgie, with that and the final away clash in Paphos already looking vital. The hosts really needed a second goal and perhaps some earlier subs to see this one out.
