Hearts were defeated 4-0 by Sturm Graz in Austria on Tuesday night in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League Second Qualifying Round tie.
The Jambos got off to the worst possible start, as Graz skipper Jan Gorenc Stankovic headed home a long throw inside four minutes.
The home side looked a danger with every cross into the box in the early stages and Seedy Jatta should really have doubled the lead inside ten minutes, but could only head against the woodwork at the back post from a deep corner.
Hodl was next to go close for the home side, cutting in off the left wing and firing a low shot at goal, which after a wicked deflection, Alexander Schwolow did well to save with his feet.
Hearts continued to see plenty of the ball and both strikers had shots saved as the first half reached the halfway point. Firstly, Claudio Braga’s effort from the edge of the box was routine for Khudiakov, before a great run from Oisin McEntee saw the ball fall to Landry Kabore in the box, but on the swivel, his shot was straight at the stopper.
The chances kept coming for Hearts and after a good press, the Jambos won the ball back on the Graz penalty area. The ball was squared to Alexandros Kyziridis, but with the goal gaping, he poked the ball wide with the outside of his foot.
The drama continued when up the other end, the home side were awarded a penalty as Harry Milne’s last-ditch block was adjudged to have come off his hand. A quick check at the pitchside monitor by referee Gergo Bogar was enough to reverse his decision, to the relief of every one of a maroon persuasion.
Half-time: Sturm Graz 1-0 Heart of Midlothian
It was déjà vu for Hearts after the interval as the home side doubled their lead with Jeyland Mitchell heading home at the back post.
Graz had the momentum and the Jambos were unable to weather the storm as the hosts broke forward again, Luca Weinhandl’s deflected effort looped over the helpless Schwolow for number three.
It got worse for Hearts on 58 minutes as Jurgen Heil broke down the right wing and fired low past Schwolow.
Hearts huffed and puffed after that, and they did manage to regain some control of the game, with substitute Tom Renaud going closest to finding the net on 83 minutes, but his effort from the edge of the area was always rising and cleared Khudiakov’s bar.
4-0 was the way it finished, with Hearts left to lick their wounds ahead of the second leg at Tynecastle next week.
Sturm Graz: Khudiakov, Mitchell, Stankovic ©, Vallci, Włodarczyk (Kayombo, 70), Soglo (Malic, 78), Seidl (Kiteishvili, 46), Jatta (Weiper, 70), Heil, Weinhandl, Hödl (Fosso, 70)
Subs: Helac, Lorenz, Kiteishvili, Kayombo, Mamageishvili, Petrovic, Malic, Beganovic, Haider, Koller, Weiper, Fosso
Hearts: Schwolow, Borchgrevink, McCart, McEntee (Magnusson, 83), Miller (Guendouz, 60), Braga, Kabore (Ba-Sy, 59), Spittal, Milne, Kyziridis (Kerjota, 60), Fagan-Walcott
Subs: Fulton, Clark, Kingsley, Renaud, Findlay, Guendouz, Wilson, Magnusson, Altena, Kerjota, Ba-Sy
