Towering goalkeeper Beau Reus rose to claw away Rapid Vienna’s fifth penalty, and his strong hands kept the ball out signalling massive celebrations.
The taker, Marco Tilio, had his head in his hands as the missed penalty saw ten-man Hearts qualify for the Conference League in a night of drama in the Austrian Capital.
Indeed, Reus (pictured) made two crucial saves in the shootout, also denying Moulaye Haidara, after Hearts had been down to ten men as Tomas Magnusson was sent off for a second yellow card after 76 minutes.
It was a rearguard action for the rest of the game, but it came good during the nerve-wrenching shootout which followed a 4-4 aggregate, the sides having drawn 2-2 in Edinburgh and Vienna.
How the travelling Jambos celebrated and the players raced over to join them after engulfing heroic goalkeeper Reus.
However, every one of the Hearts players was a hero, leaving the home fans in the stadium stunned.
Earlier, teenager James Wilson, who scored a sensational goal as Hearts drew 2-2 with Rapid Vienna at Tynecastle last week, was given the nod by manager Wouter Vrancken to start in the return at the Allianz Stadion.
The 19-year-old, who was on loan to Tottenham Hotspur in the later part of last season, replaces Pierre Landry Kabore up-front, but Hearts were minus versatile Harry Milne and defender Laurent Mendy, who has been recently sidelined through injury, was on the bench.
New striker, JJ Williams, was not available as the man born in New Mexico only signed earlier this week.
The home side, who levelled late in Edinburgh, were unchanged for the key qualifier in the UEFA Conference League, play-offs, and Hearts faced a quality side who have won 45 of their 100 matches in Europe in recent seasons.
This was injury-hit Hearts last chance to qualify for European football this season after dropping out of the Champions League and Europa League, and they were underdogs going into the game.
Blair Spittal wore the captain’s armband as the teams walked out in front of a crowd of nearly 24,000 and against a side who have won eight of their nine matches so far this term, an enviable record.
Hearts faced a green and white wall behind one of the goals as Rapid lined up with a system of 4-2-3-1 while Hearts’ starting formation was 4-3-3 and they took the game to the home side, Claudio Braga sending Wilson away on the right. He advanced but his cross fell to a white shirt and was comfortably cleared.
Spittal tried to clear but he sent the ball to an Austrian shirt and Altena snapped into a tackle which prompted the Azerbaijan-born referee to award a free kick. Yusef Demir fired for goal from 30 yards but Beau Reus spilled the ball. Luckily, Hearts recovered thanks to quick-thinking by Jamie McCart.
Seconds later Tonni Asamsen threatened on the right of the Hearts’ box but Reus blocked for a corner. Rapid failed to take advantage but they did have the lion’s share of possession, moving the ball patiently.
A major blow for Hearts followed after 14 minutes when Tom Renaud required treatment after Peter Dahl, who had caused real problems at Tynecastle, landed on the Frenchman’s left ankle near half-way, and Tomas Magnusson was called from the bench as the stretcher was wheeled onto the pitch.
Defensive midfielder, Renaud, departed down the tunnel as the Jambos re-grouped, but Rapid continued to force the pace but Magnusson broke and looked to his right for unmarked Miller but overhit his pass and the move petered out.
Oisin McEntee was yellow carded after 17 minutes for a tough tackle on Ercan Kara who hobbled to the touchline as fouls punctuated the stop-start game, but Hearts survived after a Matthias Steidl pass to Bendeguz Bolla. He sent it into the danger area and both Adamsen and Dahl had opportunities but they were blocked as the ball bounced around the six-yard box.
Then Dahl skipped past Altena on the left and he fired a cross through the six-yard box and it was missed by everybody, another scare another let-off for the Capital combine who were scarcely able to break into the Austrian side’s half.
Would Rapid rue their first-half superiority which failed to produce a breakthrough? We did not have to wait long for the answer. Sloppy play put Rapid back in possession and it was punished. Time: 35 minutes. Kara converted from close range for his fourth goal in four matches after being set up by sick inter-passing.
Yusuf Demir let fly from 25 yards but missed the target as Hearts continued to plug holes and Kara had a chance to increase the lead after being fed in a central position at the edge of the box. His shot flew over, but the warning signs were there for the Men in Maroon.
Magnusson was next to be booked, time 40 minutes, for a lunging challenge on danger man Dahl, before Spittal sent a free-kick into the Rapid penalty box. He overhit the ball which flew wide of the Austrian’s back post. A wasted opportunity.
McEntee picked up the ball and advanced over half-way before feeding Braga. He was fouled providing a good opportunity and Miller curled the ball into the box only for Rapid to clear. Another Hearts cross entered the danger area and was cleared and McPake fired from outside the box after working a good angle. This was, however, a better spell for Hearts as they tried to work their way back into the game.
McEntee warmed the gloves of the Austrian goalkeeper, Niklas Hedl, from 35 yards, in four minutes of injury time, but Rapid went in with a narrow lead, despite Hearts’ late rally.
Vrancken introduced Christian Borchgrevink at the break, brining off Stuart Findlay, and Hearts won their first corner of the night on the right. Miller’s inswinger arrived at the feet of Spittal lurking outside the box and his volley flew just wide.
McPake and Spittal combined to win another corner as the Jambos continued to press and Spittal sent the ball into the six-yard area but the referee spotted a foul. Vrancken questioned the decision with the stand-side official.
Hearts broke and Wilson attempted to sprint clear of two defenders but he cut inside and the ball flicked off Rapid defender Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao for a corner. The ball flew to the back post was headed on by Magnusson to Braga and his shot was cleared off the line.
Braga was booked after 59 minutes as the ultra-noisy Rapid fans urged their men on, but the home side were left chasing as Hearts continued to work hard and press their rivals for the Conference League slot.
But Rapid broke upfield and Dahl fired wide of Reus’ left hand post before McPake burst down the left and won a corner. It was cleared but the ball re-cycled into the box and Borchgrevink was denied. Another corner for the Jambos and McEntee sent a header just wide.
Two changes came from the Rapid bench, Adamsen and Dahl departing, as Raux-Yao was pitched up on the trackside for a head injury.
McPake ran at Rapid and was felled by Seidl at the corner of the box on the left before Kabore and Sabah Kerjota came on for McPake and Wilson. The kick found Magnusson at the back post and he sent the ball just wide with his head. Another chance.
Then calamity. Magnusson was red carded for a second yellow after a challenge on Nikolaus Wurmbrand. Time 76 minutes.
However, Hearts stuck to their task and with 11 minutes left Kabore struck at the back post, sending the ball home off his chest surrounded by three white shirts. Spittal and the Austrian side’s captain were called across to speak to the referee who signalled the goal.
The 25-year-old Burkinabe professional celebrated, but Rapid broke and won a corner. It was cleared then the ball was re-cycled back into the box. Hearts survived but Wurmbrand forced Reus to save for a corner with a shot from the edge of the box.
Yusuf Demir sent the ball over, to the relief of the Hearts fans at the other end of the pitch.
Kabore was yellow carded with four minutes left for trying to haul a rival player back giving Rapid a free-kick 25 yards from goal. The kick was blocked but as recycled and fell to Raux-Yao who hit the left upright with his deflected shot.
Hearts responded and Kabore broke only to be blocked near the 18-yard line and the play quickly went to the other end where Hearts set up a maroon wall.
Mendy came on for Braga, who had covered every blade of grass, with four minutes of injury time signalled and the aggregate locked at 3-3. Hearts moved upfield and Bolla as yellow carded just outside the box, a final chance, perhaps for Hearts and Spittle sized up the chance.
He floated the ball into the box, but it was cleared and seconds later the former Motherwell man was down on the deck holding his left leg. The skipper hobbled off but returned just before the final whistle was sounded.
This has been a massive second-half effort from Hearts, and could the ten-men sustain it against 11? Rogers Mato was brought on to replace Spittal at the start of extra time, McCart taking over as captain, before Vrancken was booked after two minutes. It was not clear why.
Time 99 minutes, and a significant incident. Kabore won the ball, found Mato on the left, he sent a cross to the back post and Miller acrobatically fired the gall home with his left foot giving the Rapid goalkeeper no chance for a 2-1 scoreline on the night.
Kabore fouled on the left-hand side and Bolla sent a right foot cross into the box but found Kabore who nodded clear. It was sent back in and Mendy, who had been influential since his introduction, cleared with his head this time.
It was all hands to the pump at this point as Hearts defended with real determination. They held out until the extra time break.
The white shirts were camped on the Hearts’ 25-yard line looking for a leveller, and Yusuf Demir fired just wide and Hearts broke, Kerjota teasing the opposition and winning a free-kick. He had been a key player since his introduction.
The pressure was ramped up by the home side as the clock ticked down, and Rapid made two more changes. Rapid fans upped their volume as substitute Hiadara fired wide, another near thing.
Kara then headed wide from a good position and Ange Ahoussou was booked as he attempted to wrestle the ball away from a Hearts’ player.
Miller was felled by a shot as Mato raced down the left, but back came the ball. Only four minutes left now and McEntee threw himself at the ball to clear with his head.
Three minutes remaining, and Rapid grew desperate as Ahoussou fired high and wide from 20 yards. Two minutes left and home fans voiced their frustration as another attack broke down near the goal line.
With one minute left, Rapid were level on the right and in the tie. Nenad Cvekovic poked the ball home at the near post after a darting run down the right when Haidara outstripped Mato.
Penalties were signalled. Hearts coaching staff linked arms as the referee briefed the two goalkeepers.
A penalty shootout went to the fifth kicks for both, Miller, Altena, Kerjota, and Mato scoring with and McEntee, taking the fifth, having his saved, and 6ft 6in Dutch goalkeeper, Beau Reus, did the business.
