Hearts Face Uphill Battle After Late Own Goal vs. Plzen

Hearts manager Steven Naismith is urging his team to leverage the energy of Tynecastle to overcome a first-leg deficit against Viktoria Plzen in the Europa League. Despite coming close to securing a goalless draw in the Czech Republic, a late own goal by Daniel Oyegoke made Hearts’ task more challenging. Oyegoke inadvertently diverted a dangerous cross from Plzen’s Cadu into his own net, giving the Czech side a slight advantage. Naismith acknowledged the disappointment of conceding late but remains optimistic about the return leg.

He emphasized the importance of using their home advantage and expressed confidence in the atmosphere at Tynecastle. Hearts will need to create more scoring opportunities, as they did in the first leg to turn the tie around. Hearts showed resilience despite a shaky start and had several chances to score with Lawrence Shankland and Kenneth Vargas both missing key opportunities.

Solid performances from goalkeeper Craig Gordon and defenders Jorge Grant, Frankie Kent and Stephen Kingsley helped keep them in the game. The late goal by Oyegoke means Hearts now face a tougher challenge in the second leg. However, they still have a backup plan as they are assured of a place in the Conference League if they don’t advance.

Naismith’s tactical adjustments, including a return to a back three and changes in the lineup, demonstrated a promising approach against a seasoned European team like Plzen. Overall, while Hearts’ mistake was frustrating, the team remains hopeful. They will head into the second leg with determination, buoyed by the support from Tynecastle and their recent competitive performance against a formidable opponent.