Hearts go down to a late strike from Slavia

RAY HEPBURN

17 Sep 1992

Slavia Prague 1, Hearts 0

JUST six minutes remained of this pulsating UEFA Cup tie when Slavia's Russian signing, Vladimir Tatarchuk, scored the goal that could make the second leg at Tynecastle in a fortnight so difficult for Hearts.

The Scots, without Craig Levein and Alan McLaren in their defence, produced a creditable backs-to-the-wall performance, and looked to be holding out for a draw before Tatarchuk scored a bizarre goal.

With everyone expecting a cross, he drove in a 30-yard free-kick from the touchline which surprised Henry Smith as it flew into the roof of the net.

Until then, Smith had coped admirably with everything the Czechs had thrown at the Edinburgh side.

Joe Jordan was disappointed his side had lost the goal in such circumstances, but he said: "I'm reasonably happy with the result.

We had to make changes in defence and the players who came in were tremendous.

"I wasn't surprised by Slavia.

I knew they were a good team but I still think we can go through."

If Hearts had felt that their opponents would be in turmoil after the sacking of techincal director Vaclav Jezek, they were mistaken as Slavia opened the match strongly.

The Scots received a pre-match boost when Slavia's experienced European player Dragisa Binic, who won a European Cup-winner's medal with Red Star two seasons ago, failed a late fitness test.

But Czech internationalist striker Pavel Kuka proved a constant source of worry and he was policed everywhere by Graeme Hogg.

The Scots had a major let-off after 15 minutes.

Kuka collected the ball in space in the box and his 12-yard shot beat Smith, but the ball came back off the goalkeeper's left-hand post.

Eight minutes later, Hearts came close themselves.

Derek Ferguson fed John Robertson in the box and his shot on the turn from only eight yards flashed over the top.

But it was a rare attack from Hearts.

Berger fired in a 20-yard shot which Smith saved well low down on the half-hour mark.

Five minutes later, Tatarchuk took the ball past Peter van de Ven but failed to score from just six yards.

It was an amazing miss.

Slavia had pace throughout their team, and Hearts had trouble coping with it.

But the Scots' midfield put in a power of work to try to take the pressure off.

Neil Berry had a superb match in an overworked defence.

The second-half opened with the Czechs looking increasingly dangerous.

Smith coped well with shots from Berger and Lerch as Slavia tried to break down a resilient Hearts defence.

Luck was on Hearts' side after 55 minutes.

Tosh McKinlay gave away a free-kick on the edge of the box with a clumsy challenge on Tatarchuk.

Radim Necas bent in the free-kick, and the ball struck the inside of Smith's left-hand post before bouncing across goal to hit the other post.

Ferguson was booked for persistent fouling, and Baird and Lerch also were shown the yellow card as frustrations came to the surface.

Smith then produced another wonder save to keep out another left-foot free-kick from Necas.

Amazingly, Hearts could have snatched the lead just minutes before Tatarchuk's goal when a shot from substitute Scott Crabbe, who had replaced the injured John Robertson, dipped just over.

But Tatarchuk was to have the final say.

SLAVIA PRAGUE -- Janos, Petrous, Suchoparek, Silhavy, Berger, Tartarchuk, Lerch, Penicka, Kuka, Necas, Novak.

Substitutes -- Prazenica, Bejbl, Rusnak, Vahala.

HEARTS -- Smith, Hogg, McKinlay, Berry, Mackay, Van de Ven, Robertson, D Ferguson, Baird, Mauchlen, Foster.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, Wilson, Wright, Bannon, Walker.

Referee -- S Husajnov (Russia).

Taken from the Herald