Ferguson free kick opens door Foul play proves costly for Bayern

JAMES TRAYNOR

1 Mar 1989

Hearts 1, Bayern Munich 0

THERE is nothing quite like a midweek European tie.

This truth was reaffirmed before 26,294 customers, who had been willing to pay inflated prices of £10 and £20, at Tynecastle as Hearts edged a small step closer to the impossible -- a UEFA Cup semi-final place.

None of the fans asked for refunds.

Iain Ferguson's long-range shot 10 minutes after the interval was stunning in its power and was the difference between two sides of contrasting styles.

One started out willing to play the ball with swift, telling touches, while the other appeared determined to barge their way towards glory.

A single goal may not be enough to guarantee safe passage for Hearts in the return leg, but let us not dwell over negative thoughts.

Hearts gave their all.

This was a splendid triumph against a team which had not lost away from home before last night.

Also, Bayern had scored 12 times in their previous three away games in this competition.

Hearts were unimpressed and proceeded to surge forward at every opportunity.

There were several heroes, but Alan McLaren should be mentioned in despatches.

He won many admirers by the way he coped with Bayern's quicksilver breaks, which became less frequent as the game progressed.

A good future awaits Hearts' confident 18-year-old defender, who was named the other day in the Scottish Under-21 squad for next week's match against France.

Another difficult evening awaits his team in a fortnight's time and on last night's evidence it would be wrong to say they can't complete the job.

They may not be the most accomplished footballing team in the premier division, but they certainly have the heart.

Hearts' cause did not appear to be helped by the absence of Robertson and Mackay, both of whom had been struggling to shake off injuries.

It was decided to hold them in reserve and they sat, albeit on edge, on the substitutes' bench.

Bayern also had to make a late alteration.

Their experienced and influential defender, Nachtweih, did not impress in a last-minute fitness test.

The West German side would have benefited from his composure in the early stages as Hearts beavered away trying to find openings.

Bannon, a player of vast experience in this school, produced a few nice touches, but the ball was generally intercepted by white-shirted players.

On one occasion when genuine danger threatened Colquhoun's progress was halted in a surprisingly crude manner.

It was more surprising to discover the culprit was Thon, a small player but the possessor of blinding skills.

His next touch was to send Ekstrom galloping through the centre of Hearts' defence.

He in turn played the ball to Flick, and his shot skidded wide by less than a foot.

It was Bayern's first

sortie forward and it was a

clear demonstration of their decisiveness.

Bannon took it upon himself to curb such boldness when he moved down the right with that ambling gait of his and lifted the ball to the far post.

Galloway launched himself upwards, but was ruled to have stopped the keeper from doing likewise.

Grahammer obviously did not think much of Bannon's intrusions and he took a wild swipe at the former Dundee United player's legs.

However, having played in this arena before, Bannon leapt out of danger, leaving the Bayern defender to catch thin air and a lecture from the referee.

Another warning had to be issued to Black, whose challenge on Reuter was recklessly high.

Nevertheless it was this, shall we say, wholehearted endeavour which was unnerving Bayern.

Still, the Germans remained willing to knock the ball around at high speed and the first half ended with McLaren being booked for a lunging tackle on Kogl.

He was probably relieved to hobble indoors for some treatment.

Bannon had turned away in anguish as his fierce shot was blocked, then Ferguson, who complained too long and loudly after having been impeded on the edge of the box, was booked all within a couple of minutes after the break.

Adrenalin was coursing and Hearts meant business.

It might have been panic, or perhaps it was a show of disdain, but the West Germans were playing a dangerous game by giving away silly fouls in the vicinity of their own box.

Both free kicks were hit by Ferguson and the first one was saved by Aumann.

He didn't even see the second.

Black was dumped 25 yards out, McKinlay trundled the ball towards Ferguson, and he struck it with a venom.

The keeper would have needed radar to follow the ball's flight path.

Suddenly, with 55 minutes gone, Bayern were chasing the game.

Frustration was invading their play and Thon was booked for an untidy challenge on Colquhoun.

The aerial power of Galloway almost led to another goal with 15 minutes left.

McKinlay clipped in a high ball, Galloway rose above his marker and nodded down, but Aumann made contact just before Ferguson.

Flick made sound contact with Colquhoun, who picked himself up and trudged off for a well earned seat.

Foster sprinted on, but all eyes, apart from those of Bayern, darted to McPherson, who was clear and in possesion 20 yards out.

The tall fellow rushed his work and shot weakly at the keeper.

That was the final opportunity, but Hearts were entitled to feel content with their evening's work.

They now stand on the threshold of glory.

HEARTS -- Smith, McLaren, McKinlay, MacPherson, Berry, Levein, Galloway, Ferguson, Colquhoun, Black, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Mackay, Robertson, Sandison, Foster, McCloy.

BAYERN MUNICH -- Aumann, Grahammer, Pflugler, Johnsen, Augenthaler, Flick, Kogl, Reuter, Wohlfarth, Thon, Ekstrom.

Substitutes -- Cheuer, Wegmann, Eck, Kasienmaier.

Referee -- H Kohl (Austria).

Taken from the Herald