Hearts prove to be the head men

16 Mar 1991

Hearts 2, IFK Gothenburg 1

HEARTS succeeded where Dundee United failed four years ago against IFK Gothenburg but there was a lot less at stake for this fixture than in the 1987 UEFA Cup Final.

That was reflected in the attendance of only 4530 -- well short of the 10,000 required for Hearts to recoup their outlay for their enterprise in bringing the Swedes to Tynecastle.

Hearts took the lead 10 minutes from half-time with a well worked goal.

Scott Crabbe rolled the ball wide to Gary Mackay and the midfielder had time to weigh up the option carefully before finding the head of John Colquhoun, who diverted the ball through Sweden's World Cup goalkeeper Tomas Ravelli's legs and into the net.

Home keeper Nicky Walker was replaced by Henry Smith at half-time and the substitute kept his goal intact for only four minutes as Swedish internationalist Stefan Rehn moved into the box to deposit a left-foot shot into the corner of the net for the Swedish champions' equaliser.

Hearts moved back in front after 60 minutes when an Eamonn Bannon corner caused confusion in the Gothenburg box and John Robertson rose unguarded to head the ball past Ravelli.

Eriksson came close to equalising 12 minutes from time with a long-range, right-foot shot but Smith dived acrobatically to his left and diverted the ball away.

HEARTS -- Walker, Sandison, McKinlay, Levein, Mackay, McPherson, Colquhoun, Wright, Crabbe, Ferguson, Robertson.

Substitutes -- Bannon, A Smith, Harrison, Christie, H Smith.

IFK GOTHENBURG -- Ravelli, Svensson, M Johansson, Nilsson, G Johansson, Rehn, Mild, Eriksson, U Johansson, K Andersson, Escelinen.

Substitutes -- Last, Kamark, T Andersson, Lindqvist, Stojcevski.

Referee -- W Crombie (Edinburgh).

Taken from the Herald