Cruel deflection signals the end of Hearts' hopes

RAY HEPBURN

29 Sep 1993

Atletico Madrid 3, Hearts 0

(Agg: 4-2)

HEARTS bowed out of Europe in Madrid last night when a spell of dogged resistance was ended by a cruel deflection that encouraged the Spaniards to finish the game in style.

The Vicente Calderon Stadium held its customary threatening atmosphere, but with Craig Levein, Graeme Hogg and Alan McLaren so dominant at the back, the early signs were encouraging.

However, Pedro's deflected goal in 35 minutes changed the complexion of the match, although the Edinburgh team held out until late on.

It took only five minutes for the Spanish side to make clear that this was going to be a torrid evening, when Pedro broke clear on the left, after Justin Fashanu carelessly gave the ball away.

The full back's pace took him into a threatening position and his left-foot cutback was thundered a foot wide of a post by Manolo.

Hearts gradually made some impression, but Fashanu did their cause no good when he was booked in 13 minutes.

However, as their confidence increased, Tosh McKinlay attacked down the left and keeper Diego looked uncomfortable as he flapped at the near-post cross when conceding a corner.

Optimism grew again among the 1000 Hearts fans perched high behind Diego's goal when Gary Mackay slid his pass ahead of Scott Leitch and his cross from the left was headed away from Fashanu by Lopez.

The far-travelled fans looked to have more to celebrate 31 minutes but their optimism was misplaced.

Leitch looped his cross over the back four into space on the Hearts right but Colquhoun was adjudged offside as he slid the ball in.

Four minutes later came the opening goal that the Hearts fans had dreaded.

Gomez fed his free kick to Pedro and his left-foot shot from 25 yards seemed to be heading safely for Smith until a deflection took it cruelly wide of the keeper and into the corner of the net.

Fashanu should have equalised in 39 minutes when his right-foot shot was struck straight at Diego.

Hearts restarted with Ian Ferguson replacing Fashanu, but it was soon Smith that was the busy man again.

Three minutes into the second half Kosecki thundered a right-foot drive towards goal, and the Hearts keeper did wonderfully well to finger the ball round the far post for a corner.

However, the tie was soon to move beyond the Edinburgh side with two quick goals.

In 72 minutes Mackay took too long to clear and Manolo moved in to beat Smith with some ease.

Three minutes later the Hearts keeper was clearly culpable when a cross from Gomez produced a weakish header from Garcia, but the ball squirmed from Smith's grasp and rolled into the net.

ATLETICO MADRID -- Diego, Bizo Gomez, Pedro, Caminero, Lopez, Moacir, Manolo, Quevedo, Luis Garcia, Kosecki, Pirri.

Substitutes -- Juanma, Abel, Solozabal, Kiko.

HEARTS -- Smith, Locke, McKinlay, Levein, Hogg, McLaren, Colquhoun, Mackay, Fashanu, Leitch, Robertson.

Substitutes -- Ferguson, Walker, Berry, Weir, Thomas.

Referee -- G Goethals (Belgium).

Taken from the Herald