Hearts fell to a 2-0 defeat against Trabzonspor in their Conference League matchday two clash at Papara Park, with a Mo Salah penalty and a strike from Dju Franculino sealing the win for the Turkish side.
The injury-hit Jambos battled hard but were ultimately undone by the big-spending hosts, who have ambitions of going all the way in the competition. Trabzonspor have invested heavily in their squad, signing Salah, Fabinho and Franculino, who they paid £17 million for and rising.
Injury Crisis Deepens
The defeat was not the biggest blow for Wouter Vrancken and his men, who travelled to Turkey more in hope than expectation. The trip to the shores of the Black Sea cost them two of their first-choice full-backs. Harry Milne looks to have done his ACL in training, while Christian Borchgrevink limped off with a hamstring issue.
Milne suffered the suspected ACL injury during the pre-match training session at Papara Park. Hearts fear the worst, and Milne will get scanned when he returns to Scotland. It left Stephen Kingsley as their only fit senior left-back, and winger Rogers Mato was deployed at left-back, up against Salah.
Craig Halkett, Tom Renaud, Blair Spittal, Eduardo Ageu, Oisin McEntee and Stuart Findlay all missed this game. Hearts went into the match without a recognised left-back and only one fit central midfielder, with Sabri Guendouz moved into the middle alongside Magnusson, who returned from his European suspension.
Missed Chances and a Costly Penalty
Hearts made a positive start following their seven-goal dismantling at Celtic on Sunday. Borchgrevink's cross-cum-shot was pushed over by Andre Onana, and Calvin Miller curled in a corner that Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed off the back post. Magnusson put it back in, and Jamie McCart fired it across the goal.
The first half featured two penalty decisions. Trabzonspor appealed for one in the 14th minute when Salah claimed his cross had come off Jordi Altena's arm. The referee let it go, but after a VAR review, the play was pulled back because a Trabzonspor player had strayed offside in the build-up.
There was no doubt about the penalty awarded in the 30th minute. Franculino burst away, and Magnusson clumsily came through the back of him. Salah stepped up and Panenka-ed his penalty down the middle as Beau Reus dived to his left.
Second Half Pressure Tells
Borchgrevink pulled up with a hamstring issue while trying to chase back. He tried to play on but it was clear his hamstring had gone, and Kingsley, who took the armband, was brought on for the Norwegian. Reus had to make a few late saves in the final stages of the first half.
Hearts continued to put in a shift, defended manfully, and made a few decent breaks but chose the wrong option with the final pass. Trabzonspor kept the ball and ramped up the pressure, which paid off with a great second goal. Franculino burst forward, played it through the legs of Mato, then ran on and took the ball back from Salah before rifling a shot high past Reus.
Vrancken made a few changes to give his team some late energy, but they couldn't get the goal that the 400-plus strong Hearts support craved. There was little consolation even when Sidny Cabral was sent off for a second booking in stoppage time. The fans and players saluted each other after the game, having given their all.
