Hearts 2 Zeljeznicar 0

By Lisa Gray, PA Sport

Hearts gave themselves a great chance of progressing beyond the first round of the UEFA Cup by defeating Zeljeznicar by two goals at Tynecastle.

Mark de Vries grabbed the opener before defender Andy Webster doubled the lead after the break to give Craig Levein's side the advantage when they head to Sarajevo for the second leg.

The last time Hearts were involved in the UEFA Cup was three years ago when they were dumped out of the competition by the Bundesliga's Stuttgart and they started this game determined to make up for lost time.

On paper, The Tynecastle side should have been confident of progressing to the second round - while they were flying high in the Bank of Scotland Premier League, their Bosnian rivals had slumped to 11th in their own domestic contest ahead of this game.

But Craig Levein was forced to head into the game with one notable omission - Phil Stamp had undergone a scan on a foot injury and failed to make the starting line-up and he was replaced by Steven Boyack.

It was Boyack who almost set up the opener for the home side after just 29 seconds. He flighted a cross from the left flank, finding the head of the towering De Vries.

The Dutchman bulleted a header goalwards but the effort was held by the Bosnian goalkeeper Kenan Hasagic.

Hearts continued to threaten the visitors' goal and Dennis Wyness tried his luck with a drive from the edge of the 18-yard box but the former Inverness hitman pulled the shot just wide of the post.

Levein was forced to make his first change of the night after just 22 minutes when Boyack received a head knock and was replaced by Jean-Louis Valois - himself returning from injury.

The breakthrough for Hearts came after 27 minutes when Alan Maybury's cross into the area found De Vries. He shrugged off his marker before turning in the box and firing low past the Zeljeznicar goalkeeper.

The Bosnian side had struggled to create much in the way of clear-cut chances but they had a chance to draw level three minutes before the break when Dzelaludin Muharemovic was brought down by Andy Webster.

Almir Gredic's short free-kick found Sanel Jahic who unleashed a powerful shot but the effort was held by Hearts goalkeeper Tepi Moilanen.

The home side were still searching for goals and had another opportunity just three minutes after the restart.

Scott Severin threaded the ball through to De Vries but the striker lost his battle for possession with Admir Kajtaz and the danger was cleared before he could pull the trigger.

Wyness could have added to Hearts' lead when he met Scott Severin's cross only to hook the shot just over the crossbar.

But the Tynecastle side's hard work paid off when they grabbed the second goal of the night after 59 minutes.

De Vries came close when his header cannoned off the crossbar and back into play, sparking a scramble in the box. Paul Hartley was first to reach the ball but his shot was blocked before Webster eventually nodded the ball over the line from a couple of yards.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, the Bosnian side stepped up their search for the crucial away goal and they enjoyed much of the possession but were still struggling to create an opening.

Joe Hamill had only just replaced Hartley when he almost set up the third goal for Hearts. His cross found De Vries and the Dutchman thumped a header at goal but that was blocked by Hasagic.

Another substitute, Graham Weir, tried to follow up with the rebound but the goalkeeper dived low to hold the ball at the far post.

Teams:

Hearts Moilanen, Maybury, Kisnorbo, Pressley, Webster, Severin, MacFarlane, Hartley (Hamill 81), Boyack (Valois 23), Wyness (Weir 74), de Vries.

Subs Not Used: Gordon, McKenna, Kirk, McCann.

Goals: de Vries 28, Webster 60.

Zeljeznicar Sarajevo Hasagic, Kajtaz, Alihodzic, Karic, Gredic (Avdija 86), Muharemovic, Spahic, Jahic, Vuksanovic (Biscevic 72), Obad (Rascic 69), Agic.

Subs Not Used: Urosevic, Joldic, Smailagic, Dzeko.

Booked: Alihodzic.

Att: 15,830

Ref: Jack Van Hulten (Holland).

Taken from sportinglife.com