James Wilson lit up Tynecastle with a sensational goal after coming on as a second-half substitute for the ineffectual Pieree Landry Kabore, his right foot shot from around 30 yards bulging the net and giving the opposition goalkeeper no chance.
The home fans in the 18,112 crowd – there were 326 away supporters present, incidentally – stood to acclaim the goal and salute the talented teenager for the 19-year-old’s second goal of the season, but he was not the only Scot to impress on the night.
Josh McPake was a total menace to the Austrian side during the time he was on the pitch. He drove relentlessly at SK Rapid down the left. They hacked him down, but like Zebedee, a character in the classic children’s television show, The Magic Roundabout, for the benefit of younger readers, he bounced back up again, dusted himself down and went again.
How the visitors must have rejoiced when they saw his number come up on the pitch side board and he trotted off to an ovation with around 20 minutes of regulation time remaining.
It was the former St Johnstone man, last season’s Player of the Year in Perth, who brought Hearts back on level terms after 55 minutes.
The 24-year-old drove into the box one more time and fired for goal only to see the ball deflected by defender Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao and past goalkeeper Niklas Hedl.
The big Frenchman had headed SK ahead after 30 minutes, ghosting in at the back post following a corner award. He celebrated by sliding towards the Gorgie End, but had an anxious wait until VAR gave the green light to the goal.
Their second arrived in 79 minutes and silenced the crowd who hit a crescendo after Wilson’s strike. It was a scrappy goal, substitute Nikolaus Wurmbrand slipping the ball through a ruck of players.
To have kept the scoreline at 2-1 would have given Hearts something to hang onto against a competent Austrian combine in this UEFA Conference League play-off in Austria next Wednesday.
The Jambos have taken advantage of Scottish Football Association dispensation and have a clear weekend with their scheduled game at Falkirk having been postponed, but last season’s runners-up in the William Hill Premiership face a tough task.
Rapid have some fine players, 22-year-old Norwegian winger, Petter Dahl, one to impress, along with 25-year-old, attacking midfielder and club skipper, Matthias Seidl, an Austrian international.
However, Wouter Vrancken (pictured), Hearts’ head coach, still believes the tie is “open” and he was pleased that his men on duty showed good energy and intensity.
They also exhibited a willingness to fight back after going behind, but he lamented the fact that the Edinburgh side don’t have a lead, even a sender one, to take to Vienna.
