2 years ago
56
ARTICLE AD BOX
Lawrence Shankland netted his sixth European goal for Hearts to give them an early lead that didn't last longHearts have it all to do in Greece next week if they are to reach the Europa Conference League groups after succumbing to a first-leg defeat at home to PAOK.
Having been fuelled to a comeback win Rosenborg last week by a febrile Tynecastle atmosphere, Hearts had the place rocking to its foundations once again as the fast start they craved was duly delivered.
Kenneth Vargas' dart into the box was halted by a clip to his ankles from Stefan Schwab and VAR intervention brought a penalty that Lawrence Shankland dispatched.
The lead was soon squandered, though, and the euphoria ebbed away, Stefan Schwab levelling from the spot after Kye Rowles clumsily sent Andrija Zivkovic tumbling.
And it was Zivkovic who delivered the killer blow with a thunderous 25-yard strike after the interval to put PAOK in pole position to qualify.
Hearts will rue what might have been. Shankland had a glorious strike into the top corner disallowed for offside at 1-1 and both he and Liam Boyce were foiled in quick succession in the the first half.
However, the Greeks - quarter-finalists two seasons ago - more than contributed to a compelling contest with the impressive Zivkovic and Taison posing plenty of problems.
Player of the match - Andrija Zivkovic
The Serbia forward proved the scourge of Hearts as he won the penalty and rifled a terrific winnerPositives for Hearts in painful defeat - analysis
If Hearts are to reach the groups for the second season running, they'll have to do it the hard way.
They may feel this game was there for the taking. Having opted for a front-loaded line-up, Frankie McAvoy's side lacked control in midfield at times but looked a threat whenever they got service to Shankland. The disallowed goal was a sliding doors moment.
However, any lead in this tie was to be prized and Hearts relinquished it far too easily. PAOK are clearly a dangerous side. Not the most convincing at the back, but slick in possession and quick on the counter.
Still, Hearts showed enough here to foster belief the deficit is not insurmountable.
What's next?
Hearts are away to Dundee in the Scottish Premiership on Sunday (15:00 BST) then head to Greece for the second leg with PAOK next Thursday (18:30).
Line-ups
Hearts
Formation 4-4-2
- 28Clark
- 13AtkinsonSubstituted forOffiahat 90'minutes
- 2Kent
- 15Rowles
- 3Kingsley
- 77VargasSubstituted forOdaat 90'minutes
- 14DevlinBooked at 82mins
- 19CochraneSubstituted forSibbickat 87'minutes
- 18McKaySubstituted forLowryat 65'minutes
- 9ShanklandBooked at 51mins
- 10BoyceSubstituted forTagawaat 87'minutes
Substitutes
- 11Oda
- 12McGovern
- 16Halliday
- 17Forrest
- 21Sibbick
- 22Denholm
- 23Stone
- 25Tait
- 29Offiah
- 30Tagawa
- 51Lowry
- 54Wilson
PAOK Salonika
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 42Kotarski
- 16Kedziora
- 15Troost-EkongBooked at 82mins
- 4Koulierakis
- 55Soares AlvesBooked at 90mins
- 22Schwab
- 6TsingarasBooked at 51mins
- 14Zivkovic
- 7KonstanteliasSubstituted forMurgat 70'minutesBooked at 90mins
- 11TaisonSubstituted forNareyat 79'minutes
- 71ThomasSubstituted forTzimasat 88'minutes
Substitutes
- 3Näsberg
- 5Michailidis
- 10Murg
- 18Zivkovic
- 19Lyratzis
- 20Vieira de Freitas
- 23Sastre
- 29Vrakas
- 38Giaxis
- 64Talichmanidis
- 77Narey
- 95Tzimas
Live Text
Match ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, PAOK Salonika 2.
Second Half ends, Heart of Midlothian 1, PAOK Salonika 2.
Thomas Murg (PAOK Salonika) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Theocharis Tsingaras (PAOK Salonika).
Cameron Devlin (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Thomas Murg (PAOK Salonika) wins a free kick on the left wing.
Foul by Yutaro Oda (Heart of Midlothian).
Hand ball by Stefanos Tzimas (PAOK Salonika).
Rafa Soares (PAOK Salonika) is shown the yellow card.
Foul by Theocharis Tsingaras (PAOK Salonika).
Alex Lowry (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul by Stefanos Tzimas (PAOK Salonika).
Odeluga Offiah (Heart of Midlothian) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Odeluga Offiah replaces Nathaniel Atkinson.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Yutaro Oda replaces Kenneth Vargas.
Konstantinos Koulierakis (PAOK Salonika) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul by Kyosuke Tagawa (Heart of Midlothian).
Substitution, PAOK Salonika. Stefanos Tzimas replaces Brandon Thomas.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Toby Sibbick replaces Alex Cochrane.
Substitution, Heart of Midlothian. Kyosuke Tagawa replaces Liam Boyce.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key1 = Give it up10 = Pure perfection
Heart of Midlothian
Squad number28Player nameClark
Squad number13Player nameAtkinson
Squad number2Player nameKent
Squad number15Player nameRowles
Squad number3Player nameKingsley
Squad number77Player nameVargas
Squad number14Player nameDevlin
Squad number19Player nameCochrane
Squad number18Player nameMcKay
Squad number9Player nameShankland
Squad number10Player nameBoyce
Squad number11Player nameOda
Squad number21Player nameSibbick
Squad number29Player nameOffiah
Squad number30Player nameTagawa
Squad number51Player nameLowry
PAOK Salonika
Squad number42Player nameKotarski
Squad number16Player nameKedziora
Squad number15Player nameTroost-Ekong
Squad number4Player nameKoulierakis
Squad number55Player nameRafa Soares
Squad number22Player nameSchwab
Squad number6Player nameTsingaras
Squad number14Player nameZivkovic
Squad number7Player nameKonstantelias
Squad number11Player nameTaison
Squad number71Player nameThomas
Squad number10Player nameMurg
Squad number77Player nameNarey
Squad number95Player nameTzimas
English (US) ·