Beau Reus proved to be the decisive factor for Heart of Midlothian when his two crucial penalty saves helped the Scottish side overcome a red card and clinch a dramatic shoot‑out win against Rapid Vienna. The victory, achieved after a 4‑4 aggregate stalemate, sees the Jambos back in the UEFA Conference League group stage for the third time in the last five campaigns. The tie began with a 2‑2 draw at Tynecastle in the first leg, leaving both teams level but with the advantage of an away goal for the Austrians. In the second leg, played in Vienna, Hearts appeared to be on the back foot.
They fell behind early when Ercan Kara, who had opened the scoring in the first half, found the net again, putting the visitors under pressure. The situation worsened in the 75th minute when referee Tomas Magnusson showed a second yellow card to Hearts’ captain, forcing the team to continue with ten men. Despite the numerical disadvantage, the Jambos responded instantly. Substitute forward Landry Kabore, who had been introduced to add fresh impetus, managed to level the score just minutes after the dismissal.
The momentum shift continued in extra‑time when Calvin Miller, coming off the bench, volleyed home a spectacular strike in the 10th minute of the added period, giving Hearts a fleeting lead. Rapid Vienna, however, were not ready to concede defeat. In the 119th minute, deep into stoppage time, they struck back, with Nenad Cvetković finding the back of the net from a cross by Moulaye Haidara.
The goal forced the tie into a penalty shoot‑out, with the aggregate score locked at four apiece. Hearts entered the shoot‑out with confidence, and their composure paid off.
Miller, Jordi Altena, Rogers Mato and Sabah Kerjota all converted their spot‑kicks, while Oisin McEntee was the sole player to miss. Reus, standing tall in goal, denied Rapid twice, cementing his status as the hero of the night. Manager Wouter Vrancken, who made a single alteration to the starting XI from the first leg by replacing Kabore with James Wilson, praised his side’s resilience. He noted that the early stages of the match saw Rapid dominate possession, with Yusuf Demir and Tonni Adamsen testing Reus within the first ten minutes.
Hearts suffered a setback in the 15th minute when Tom Renaud was forced off after a clash with Rapid’s Petter Dahl, leaving the Scottish side further depleted. The breakthrough for the hosts arrived in the 34th minute when Demir’s low drive from the right side glanced off Oisin McEntee and fell kindly to Kara, who slotted it home from the edge of the six‑yard box. Hearts nearly equalised when Braga capitalised on a loose ball, but his angled shot was comfortably saved by Rapid keeper Niklas Hedl.
The first half continued with both teams creating chances. Demir’s long‑range effort curled just wide, while Kara’s attempt from the edge of the box sailed over the crossbar. Hearts, however, began to assert more pressure as the half drew to a close, with Josh McPake and McEntee both attempting shots from outside the area. The second half saw the Jambos maintain their forward thrust.
Captain Blair Spittal unleashed a volley from 20 yards that narrowly missed the target, and both Wilson and Braga failed to convert clear chances. Magnusson, who had replaced the injured Renaud, headed narrowly wide from a Spittal free‑kick before receiving a second yellow card for a trip on Jannes Horn in the 76th minute, reducing Hearts to ten men. Remarkably, the substitute Kabore rose to the occasion within three minutes of the dismissal. Adjusting his body, he chested a corner delivered by Spittal into the near post, restoring parity for the short‑handed side.
The drama intensified in extra‑time. In the 100th minute, Miller seized upon a cross from substitute Rogers Mato, volleying it into the net to give Hearts a 3‑2 lead on the night.
Yet the joy was short‑lived; just before the final whistle, Cvetković headed in Haidara’s cross in the 119th minute, forcing the contest into penalties. During the shoot‑out, Hearts displayed composure. Miller, Altena, Mato and Kerjota all converted, while McEntee’s miss proved costly for the Austrians. Reus’s two saves were decisive, ensuring a 4‑3 shoot‑out triumph and securing Hearts’ most notable European result in over twenty years.
After the match, Vrancken spoke to BBC Sport, reflecting on his team’s performance. He admitted the first half was “really bad,” likening it to their earlier encounter with Benfica, and criticised the lack of grit in executing their game plan.
However, he praised the second‑half turnaround, noting the players’ increased intensity and dominance. He emphasized the need for his squad to develop confidence, stating, “They have to learn that they’re a good team, that they’re good players, and that they can show it every week, every game.” Vrancken also highlighted the progress he has witnessed within the squad, commending the collective spirit and the willingness of the players to absorb feedback and improve. He concluded on a positive note, expressing happiness at the result and optimism for the future. Hearts now look ahead to the Conference League group stage, where they will test themselves against clubs from across Europe.
The triumph in Vienna not only demonstrates their resilience under adversity but also showcases the impact of decisive moments—particularly Reus’s heroics from the spot—on the fortunes of a club striving to re‑establish itself on the continental stage. Fans can continue to support the Jambos as they embark on this new European adventure, while the club also offers a promotional Super 6 competition where participants can win up to £1 million, with free entry available for all supporters.