Neilson's late winner pumps new life into Hearts

Lisa Gray in Basle
Friday November 26, 2004
The Guardian

A thunderous shot from Robbie Neilson a minute fom time gave Hearts their first win in the competition and injected belated hope into the Scottish club's campaign as they overcame Basle last night.

Despite looking second best to the Swiss side in the first half, it was the Tynecastle team who took the lead when Dennis Wyness scored after 31 minutes. But later Hearts thought they would have to settle for a point when the substitute Cesar Andres Carignano equalised deep into the second period.

But the match took a dramatic late twist when Neilson delivered the winner. Phil Stamp's header fell to the feet of Neilson and he comprehensively beat the Basle goalkeeper Pascal Zuberuhler with a fierce finish.

The first two games had left Hearts without a point and they had the added disruption of changing managers. John Robertson's first match in charge was the defeat by Schalke 04 but he emerged from that insisting Hearts could win their last two contests.

Last night, only the reflexes of Craig Gordon prevented Hearts falling behind in the 18th minute. Matias Emilio Delgado delivered a ferocious long-range shot that Gordon did well to block. From the rebound, Julio Hernan Rossi headed from six yards but the goalkeeper again saved.

Hearts had a wonderful chance to take the lead when Michael Stewart played the ball through to Wyness, but he dragged his shot across the face of goal.

But Wyness and Hearts did not wait too much longer to take the lead. Ramon Pereira started the move, finding Joe Hamill, who set up Wyness for a shot from just outside the six-yard box that he fired home.
Basle resorted to desperate measures to haul themselves level when Mile Sterjovski claimed he had been hauled down in the box by Alan Maybury. The referee Kristinn Jakobsson ignored the claims.

Gordon produced another fine save to prevent Scott Chipperfield scoring with a diving header. And Basle were again unfortunate not to equalise when Chipperfield's corner picked out Carignano and he watched in disbelief as Maybury hooked his header off the line. But Carignano was celebrating after 76 minutes when he managed to shrug off Maybury before firing past Gordon from eight yards.

Just when Hearts thought they would be leaving Switzerland with a draw, they took all three points with Neilson's late winner.

Taken from the Guardian/Observer