Tynecastle Stadium Thursday, September 28th, 2000   UEFA Cup         Hearts 3-2 VFB Stuttgart
2000 /01

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Hearts 3-2 VfB Stuttgart (Agg. 3-3) VfB Stuttgart win on away goals. Hearts manager Jim Jefferies hailed his side''s effort as they came close to a fantastic aggregate victory over VfB Stuttgart, only to lose out on away goals. After leading 1-0, Hearts fell 2-1 behind, but then turned things round to lead 3-2. With Stuttgart reduced to nine men, Hearts went all out to get the fourth goal which would take them through to the next round. But it was not to be as the German side held out to edge through. Jefferies said afterwards: You can''t ask for any more than that - they gave me everything. We could have stolen at the death - we had two terrific chances - I don''t think Gordan Petric realised how much time he had. A vastly depleted Hearts were forced into a number of changes for the hugely important tie. Kevin James came into the defence with Gordan Petric and Gary Locke both occupying unfamiliar midfield roles. Following their abysmal showing against Kilmarnock on Sunday, Hearts were obviously keen to show they had sufficient mettle to overturn the German side''s 1-0 first-leg lead. A high-tempo opening had Hearts snapping at Stuttgart heels and looking to create some early goalscoring opportunities. Nevertheless, Marcelo Bordon ought to have put the tie beyond Hearts with two early opportunities - his first in the opening minute from a corner kick was a particularly bad miss. But on 16 minutes, Stuttgart felt the brunt of Kevin James'' 6ft 7ins frame. Gary Naysmith swung in a vicious corner which the towering James flicked the ball on at the front post, into the path of the onrushing Steven Pressley who swept the ball high into the net. That was exactly the start Hearts were looking for and the Tynecastle crowd were right behind their team. Stuttgart were nevertheless still a danger and Seitz went close in 25 minutes following an excellent three-man move also involving Balakov and Dundee. Seitz might have been better atempting the cross rather than going for goal from what turned out to be too tight an angle. Gary Locke was forced out of the game shortly afterwards having picked up an early knock, Robbie Neilsen coming on to replace him. It was Neilsen who almost added to Hearts'' tally on the half-hour mark with a good effort from the edge of the penalty area after the ball had broken to him. The former Liverpool striker, Sean Dundee, took a heavy knock which required lengthy treatment, but the South African recovered sufficiently to score the equalising goal minutes later. A mazy run down the right by Seitz opened up the Hearts defence and his square ball caused a scramble in the six-yard box. The ball broke kindly for Dundee who flicked the ball beyond the helpless Antti Niemi. Seitz almost added a second soon after with a powerful drive from distance which Niemi did well to parry. Hearts needed an early goal to give them a realistic chance of turning the tie around, but it was the Germans who began the second half with more urgency. The runs of Seitz down the Hearts left were proving problematic to the Hearts rearguard, and Colin Cameron was booked for a challenge on Seitz eight minutes into the second period. The resultant free kick by Balakov dipped just wide, although Niemi appeared to have it covered in any case. But the visitors did take the lead on the night on 57 minutes when Bordon headed in at the back post. A short corner was helped on speculatively to the far post and the Brazilian rose highest to put the tie well beyond the Tynecastle team. But almost immediately, Hearts equalised through Gordan Petric. Stuttgart were clearly unsettled by the height Hearts had when attacking corners, and so it was that Petric climbed easily to nod the ball past Hildebrand to make the score 3-2 on aggregate. Hearts continued to battle in search of the two further goals they required, with Gary McSwegan coming on for the final 20 minutes. VfB also looked capable of adding to their haul, Dundee firing well over from a good position. Incredibly, though, within minutes of coming on, McSwegan handed Hearts a glorious chance to claw their way to victory. The striker got in behind the last man and, as he prepared to shoot, he was hauled back by Meissner. The referee seemed to award a free kick, but his assistant indicated that it was a penalty. After a period of great confusion during which the referee issued the red card to the wrong man. Following further consultation with his assistant, he finally changed his decision to red card Meissner. Colin Cameron kept his head well to bury the penalty. VfB were then reduced to nine men when Schneider, who had already been booked, scythed down Naysmith. From the resultant free kick, the ball was knocked out of the Stuttgart box, only to be returned to Petric. But with no-one near him and time to control his shot, the auxiliary midfielder blasted his shot well over the bar. Hearts were throwing everything into attack, with Pressley joining his strikers up front. For their part, VfB Stuttgart pulled their remaining eight men back behind the ball in a desperate bid to hold on. Colin Cameron had a good effort parried by Hildebrand in the first minute of the five added on. The visitors almost made the game safe with a break upfield, but the Hearts defence watched with gratitude as the ball was swept over the bar. With only two minutes remaining, an almighty scramble in front of Hildebrand ended with Grant Murray coming within inches of hammering the ball into the net. But that was their final chance and although the term brave Hearts had never rung more true, the Germans left with the spoils. Hearts: Niemi, Locke, Pressley, Murray, Naysmith, James, Petric, Cameron, Flogel, Kirk, Juanjo. Subs: Rousset, McSwegan, Jackson, Adam, Neilson, O''Neil, Simpson. VfB Stuttgart: Hildebrand, Meissner, Bordon, Schneider, Carnell, Thiam, Balakov, Seitz, Lisztes, Hosny, Dundee. Subs: Trautner, S. Blank, Todt, Ganea, Hleb, Pinto, Amanatidis. Referee: Bruno Derrien (France)