New-look Hearts were clinically exposed by a ruthless Benfica side and go into next week’s return five goals adrift after a 6-1 drubbing in Lisbon.
The Capital combine overrun in the first 45 minutes but improved in the second half before Benfica exposed weaknesses in the Jambos rearguard.
This third round tie in the Europe League qualifying round saw Hearts continue their transition phase after dropping out of the Champions League but they found a Portugal-based team with stars from top teams including Barcelona in their ranks. They even had the luxury of having former Aston Villa striker, Duran, on the bench.
The home side crushed Hearts with some superb football and chance taking making their trip to Scotland almost academic.
Nearly 2,000 Hearts fans made the journey to Lisbon and there were two changes, Kyziridis and Kabore coming in, Kerjota and Ba-Sy making way.
The portents were not good as the Jambos came into the game having only scored one goal and lost eight in their first three competitive games in the Champions League and the William Hill Premiership.
It did not take long for the home side to threaten and Hearts’ new goalkeeper, Reus, was tested. Two minutes in and the nightmare started as the Men in Maroon found themselves 1-0 down. Marco Silva’s men struck with a well-worked goal.
Barreiro drove to the by line and his cut back found Silva who found the back of the net.
Portugal-born Braga hit back for Hearts with a header against Benfica’s back-up goalkeeper, but the home side were not to be denied and pushed forward.
Reus saved Hearts again as Benfica kept up the assault and they controlled play in midfield.
Hearts, at last, began to string some passes together, heartening their fans, working down the left hand side and prising an opening. The Edinburgh side appeared to be rising in confidence, sitting tight and trying to keep Benfica at distance.
Reus was soon called into action and the centre of attention. The 6ft 4in Dutchman beat away Sudakov’s shot from the edge of the area, Barreiro was played in but denied by the goalkeeper and the towering stopper saved his side again after Prestianni broke down the left.
It seemed inevitable that the home side would break through again and they stung Hearts from a set play, Araujo netting with a header. Time 23 minutes.
What a contrast, last season Hearts had the best record at defending set-pieces, but they were breached by a team of quality despite Hearts having enough players back in the box to defend.
Kabore, however, worked a position at the other end and Kyziridis sent the ball in, but it was cleared. At least the play was at the opposition end before Benfica counter attacked and Sliva threatened. Reus was in action again, sending the ball for a corner, and Araujo pounced from an out swinging corner. Hearts survived.
Miller had shown he can carry the ball, and Hearts needed the former Falkirk man to do more of that to ease the relentless pressure of the two-time European Cup winners who showed their quality.
Reus saved again to deny Barreiro before Spittal created a chance on a counter for Mendy. The former Motherwell man sent in an inviting outswing free kick and the newcomer signed from Forest Green Rovers headed onto the bar. It rebounded to safety, but that was a real chance.
Benfica won another corner, and then a penalty. Mendy tugged Argentine forward Prestianni. The referee pointed to the spot and booked Mendy who had been performing well until then. Greek striker Pavlidis accepted responsibility, took a deep breath and scored straight down the middle as Reus dived the wrong way. Time 41 minutes.
Hearts held out until the whistle, but Benfica were in complete control of the tie, in the iconic, 63,000-capacity, Stadium of Light, and Wouter Vrancken made two changes at the break, Mendy and Milne of and McCart and Renaud on.
Hearts attempted to put up a barrier inside their own half, but Pavlidis broke and strived to make it four. McCart did well to save the day. It was all hands to the deck around the Hearts box as Benfica pressed and it was one-way traffic.
Seconds later ruthless Benfica capitalised. Kabore was robbed and that started the move which ended with goal No 4. Time 59 minutes. Prestianni latched on to a loose pass just outside the box and advanced before curving the ball into the top corner with his cultured right foot.
Benfica were, frankly, in a different league to their opponents and they forced a corner as desperate Hearts tried to prevent further damage, but Kabore had an opportunity to break from half-way before Argentine midfielder, Barrenechea, stepped in with a crucial tackle.
Kabore then left proceedings and Guendouz took over. Benfica also used their bench, and Reus was forced to dive to his right to prevent goal No 5.
Kyziridis made his way up field and fed Braga, but his touch let him down and Spittal, who took over as captain, found his way into the referees book for a tough tackle. Seconds later there was joy for the Jambos as Renaud scored a fine goal after a four-man move.
Kyziridis initiated the play. He passed to Guendouz, he released Spittal who passed to Renaud on his right and the Frenchman sent the ball home from an angle to make the scoreline 4-1. Time 72 minutes.
Hearts had another chance. Spittal was brought down by Duran 25-yards out and Kyziridis and Spittal weighted-up the opportunity. It was Spittal who stepped up and whipped the ball around the wall but he did not have enough on it and it sped past the post.
The Jambos were, however, maintaining pressure in the opposition half and McPake was brought on as Hearts grew in confidence, spraying the ball around.
The former St Johnstone striker was brought down by Bah on the left of the box, but the delivery was batted away to Renaud who hit it first time. It was a sweet strike but it sped over the bar, great technique, disappointing outcome.
There was a marked improvement in the Jambos second-half, and Benfica had dropped off from their first half intensity, they did, however, break and Duran fired wildly over to the annoyance of his team-mates.
Kerjota was introduced for the final five minutes but the visitors were punished when an attack broke down and Duran netted clinically inside the box after great play from Schjelderup. Scoreline 5-1. Time 87min.
Braga was shown a yellow card as the clock ticked down and Silva drove into the box before letting fly with his right foot. The ball rebounded from the left upright, a real let-off, but Hearts were then cut open by Norwegian midfielder Schjelderup.
Inside injury time Benfica were awarded a penalty when the ball hit McEntee’s hand just inside the box as he slid in to challenge. VAR intervened and the penalty signalled, Benfica’s second on the night.
Schjelderup, who had come to life in the later stages, took several deep breaths and he delivered, putting his foot through the ball and firing straight down the middle for No 6 four minutes into injury time.
This equalled the worse result for Hearts in Europe. A dismal night and almost certainly Hearts will slip into the Conference League despite the second leg to come at Tynecastle next Thursday (19.45).
BUSY: Hearts’ goalkeeper Beau Reus had to deny Benfica with several quality stops. Picture Nigel Duncan
