CRAIG'S BRAG O OF TRICKS

UEFA CUP SPECIAL:
Braga 2 Hearts 2 (agg. 3-5)
Levein's gamble pays off as hero hitman De Vries fires a double to sink Portuguese

By John Docherty

THE greatest gamble of Craig Levein's managerial career paid off last night as Hearts stormed into the UEFA Cup group draw.

The fearless Tynecastle boss threw in Mark de Vries even though the big Dutchman had been hobbling around on crutches less than a week ago.

And the striker, who received a pain-killing injection in his injured right foot, bagged an incredible double to floor Braga and send the jubilant Jambos into Tuesday's draw.

The 1500-strong army of fans who had travelled from Gorgie to the magnificent Estadio Municipal duly went into orbit.

Joao Tomas had tried to silence them when he put the Portuguese side in front after just 12 minutes.

But the heroics of lone striker de Vries - who hadn't played since he injured a foot against Kilmarnock five weeks ago - ensured Hearts a place in the new-look group stages and a £2million pay-off.

Despite a 3-1 lead from the first leg, Levein had been clearly desperate to call upon the towering strength of the front man who scored in the UEFA Cup triumph in Bordeaux last season.

And the manager sprang another surprise with the inclusion of Spanish striker Ramon Pereira on the bench after an ankle injury.

Canadian Kevin McKenna, who had not kicked a ball this season through injury, was also a sub. Neil MacFarlane was drafted into the starting line-up with Joe Hamill having to settle for the bench.

Hearts chief executive Chris Robinson was a late arrival in Portugal.

Negotiations over to the sale of his shareholding to Lithuanian banker Vladimir Romanov had delayed him in the UK.

And he must have been impressed by Braga's amazing 30,000-capacity, £34m stadium, carved out of of the rock of Mount Casto.

The home side started well, Jaime's low and hard free-kick being turned around a post by keeper Craig Gordon for a corner. Seconds later Wender blazed the ball over the bar as Braga surged forward in their quest for an early goal.

In the eighth minute, Kenedy was yellow-carded by Slovakian referee Anton Stredak for a wild two-footed lunge at Robbie Neilson.

Hearts, however, were always looking to hit Braga on the counter and a Phil Stamp volley from inside the box was saved by Paulo Santos.

But with 12 minutes on the clock Hearts found themselves 1-0 down.

Paulo Sergio fired over a cross from the right that was headed on by Wender and Tomas lobbed the ball over Gordon from a a tight angle. It was a bad one to lose with no one picking up Tomas.

Levein's side,however,will never be accused of lacking bottle. They dusted themselves down after that early hammer blow and almost equalised in 19 minutes.

Paul Hartley held the ball up for Robbie Neilson, who volleyed in a terrific right-foot shot that came off Wender and curled just past a post.

A dangerous Jorge Luiz cross on the left was comfortably plucked out of the air by Gordon as Hearts knuckled down to what was going to be a very difficult evening.

But in the27th minute,Hearts were level after a a shocking defensive cock-up by Braga - and de Vries was the goal grabber.

Portuguese captain Paulo Jorge attempted a pass-back header that fell short to Santos who stood rooted to the spot and de Vries nipped in to tap the ball into the net. The goal sparked off ecstatic celebrations among the Hearts fans, some of whom rushed down to the front of the stand but were quickly stopped by police from going any further.

Braga had a penalty claim turned down 10 minutes before the break, the players angrily insisting Wender's volley had come off Stamp's hand.

Jaime then let rip with a free-kick that whistled narrowly past and Gordon then got down well to block a Wender drive.

This was shaping up to be a brilliant night for Hearts and it was about to get even better when de Vries,who had been booked for mouthing at the referee at the end of the first half,made it 2-1.

He picked the ball up deep inside the Braga half and smacked a left-foot drive that received a deflection from Nem and ended up in the corner of the net.

Braga's players were in a state of shock and it was all down to another superb European display by Hearts.

They almost stretched their lead even further when a glancing header from Stamp flashed past Santos' left-hand post.

With 13 minutes left Jaime put Braga level on the night when he bundled the ball over the line but by now the Jambos were firmly in the driving seat.

Time ran out on Braga and their cocky manager, Jesualdo Ferreira - who had boasted his team would rip Hearts apart - was left to eat his words.

Taken from the Daily Record