Real Mallorca 1 Hearts 1 (Agg: 2-1)

Hearts bowed out of the Cup Winners' Cup on a night of high drama at the Luis Sitjer Stadium.

The Edinburgh club only agreed to play the first round second-leg game under protest.

They complained the goal posts were too high and lopsided at both ends but because of their huge support on the island they agreed to go ahead - and paid dearly for losing 1-0 in the home leg.

Ariel Lopez extended Mallorca's advantage in the second half before Jim Hamilton levelled the scores on the night.

It was the first goal the home side had conceded this season but that was little consolation for the Hearts players, who trudged off at the end with their heads bowed.

To add to manager Jim Jefferies' worries, influential winger Neil McCann was stretchered off and taken away by ambulance after being hurt following a challenge from Olaizola.

Goalkeeper Gilles Rousset was back between the posts for Hearts after a back injury while midfielder Stevie Fulton was again ruled out because of a hamstring strain.

Hearts missed his craft in the middle of the park but they fought hard and gave their fans plenty to shout about, especially in the second half.

Rousset was called into action after just three minutes when he did well to take hold of a stinging free-kick from Jovan Stankovic.

But Hearts settled into the match and Hamilton saw a good shot take a deflection off Marcelino.

Gary Naysmith then released David Weir but he had strayed marginally offside.

Hearts carved out the best move of the first half when McCann picked out Stephane Adam, who played the ball back to Hamilton and his shot was struck firm and true but keeper Cesar Galvez parried the ball to safety.

Hearts were rocked back on their heels on the 49th minute when the hosts went 2-0 ahead on aggregate, Lauren sweeping in a cross from the right and Lopez heading home unmarked.

McCann was carried off soon after that, with Derek Holmes replacing him. But Mallorca stepped up the pressure and Rousset had to be alert to push away a corner from Stankovic.

Hearts were given hope with 15 minutes to go when Adam delivered a cross from the right and keeper Galvez completely lost his bearings.

Hamilton got there first and knocked a header in off the post, with Marcelino unable to keep the ball out despite a desperate struggle to clear on the line.

Hearts were lifted by that and Paul Ritchie was a bit over-enthusiastic with a challenge on Lauren, which earned him a yellow card.

The Scots pushed forwards in the dying minutes but were unable to get the goal that would have secured a famous victory

Teams

Real Mallorca: Galvez, M. Soler, Siviero, Marcelino, Dani (Nino 80), Stankovic, Lauren, Olaizola, F. Soler (Carreras 85), Arpon, Lopez (Biagini 81).

Subs Not Used: Franco, Carlos, Rufete, Pavnovic.

Booked: Arpon, Lopez.

Goals: Lopez 49.

Hearts: Rousset, Naysmith, Weir, Salvatori, Ritchie, McCann (Holmes 53), Adam, Hamilton, Locke, Makel (McPherson 84),Pressley.

Subs Not Used: McKenzie, Murray, Murie, Horn, Severin.

Booked: Makel, Hamilton, Ritchie, Weir.

Goals: Hamilton 75.

Agg (2-1)

Att: 12,218

Ref: H Albrecht (Germany).

Hearts chairman Leslie Deans confirmed that he had faxed UEFA with an official protest aimed at overturning tonight's result.

"We only want to see fair play," he said. "The ball is now in UEFA's court."

It is believed any hearing will be heard early tomorrow morning, before the second round draw.



Taken from sportinglife.com