Heart of Midlothian 1-1 FC Nordsjælland
O.McEntee (33′) Røjkjær (86′)
Hearts opened their Conference League campaign with a draw to Danish side FC Nordsjælland. Neither side was short of chances but a late equaliser from Niklas Røjkjær left Hearts depleted after failing to see the game out.
The match witnessed a fast-paced opening with both teams taking turns attacking. However, to no avail. Claudio Braga’s name was the first in the book after five minutes as the Hearts forward pulled back a Nordsjælland attacker looking to come forward.
The first real chance of the match fell to FC Nordsjælland as Prince Amoako found space in the box and cut in on his right foot, but the forward’s shot flashed past the goal for a corner.
Nordsjælland consistently looked for the Ghanian winger’s shot was blocked for a corner again minutes later.
As time went on the visitors began to control the game but Hearts still troubled as an inviting left foot cross by Calvin Miller was unable to be met by Braga nor Josh McPake.
Amoako would then tease the goal again for the third time in the opening 20. The winger found space on the left yet again, aiming for the far corner but his left-footed effort would strike the post.
Hearts’ next effort on goal would fall to Josh McPake before the half-hour mark as the winger intercepted a pass high up the park and shot from outside the area. However, his shot was straight at Andreas Hansen in the Nordsjælland net.
Hearts took the league shortly after as Oisin McEntee bundled home from close range after Harry Milne won a corner for the hosts.
The opener seemed to breath a new lease of life into Hearts on and off the pitch as the noise in Tynecastle rose ten fold, sparking an energetic response from the hosts who looked hungry for a second.
There was a penalty appeal shortly before half-time as James Wilson was brought down in the box, but much to the dismay of the Hearts fans, no penalty was awarded by the VAR team.
Braga was the next to have an attempt for Hearts after being played in on goal, but the forward’s powerful effort was wide of the mark.
The Hearts pressure continued as may wondered how they weren’t 2-0 up going into the break. Hansen was forced to produce two close range saves in quick succession before Josh McPake’s effort whistled by the far post moments later.
The first chance of the second half fell to Hearts as some tidy play set up a James Wilson volley within five minutes, but the forward’s effort was over the bar. Calvin Miller was next to try for Hearts but his effort fell easily into Hansen’s hands. Nordsjælland would come forward immediately after as Amoako looked dangerous once more, but the winger couldn’t get the ball out his feet this time. A poor clearance led to Nordjælland earning a corner which Hearts counter attacked from but McPake’s low effort was narrowly wide.
The end-to-end play continued as Alexander Lind forced Beau Reus into a brilliant save before Ibrahim Adel entered the book for an aggressive foul in the Hearts box.
After a quieter period in the game Nordjælland would come forward again through Amoako, whose deflected effort was saved by Reus in the Hearts net. Sabah Kerjota had a soft penalty appeal waved moments later.
Hearts, still on the hunt for a second won a free kick high up the park moments later, which Kerjota floated onto the head of Malachi Fagan-Walcott, but the defender’s effort was agonisingly wide.
As the match entered its’ final ten minutes, Hearts appeared to shut up shop, which isn’t surprising considering the face eight games within the next 24 days.
However, the pressure Hearts then invited led to Nordsjælland netting a late equaliser as Nicklas Røjkjær’s effort suffered a deflection to wrong foot Reus and leave Hearts rueing missed chances.
The fourth official signalled for an additional three minutes as Nordsjælland pushed to snatch the win, Hjalte Boe’s effort was blocked for a corner as the sides were forced to settle for a point apiece.
Heart of Midlothian: Reus, Borchgrevink, Fagan-Walcott, McCart, Milne (Kingsley 87′), McEntee (goal 33′, Altena 87′), Mendy, Miller, Braga (Kerjota 70′), McPake (Mato 87′), Wilson (Williams 77′)
Substitutes: Clark, Fulton, Kingsley, Williams, Kabore, Findlay, Guendouz, Altena, Kerjota, Pollock, Gillies, Mato
FC Nordsjælland: Hansen, Nelsson (Berthelsen 83′), Salquist, Markmann, Norheim (Sadio, 64′), Janssen, Brink (Røjkjær, 64′), Lähteenmäki, Adel, Lind (Boe 71′), Amoako
Substitutes: Busk, Eriksson, Ankersen, Røjkjær (goal 86′), Solbakken, Acquah, Heyde, Walker, Berthelsen, Sadio, Boe, Faber
Referees: Damian Kos (POL), Bartosz Heinig (POL), Artur Zakrzewski (POL), Patryk Greckiewicz (POL)
VAR: Pawel Malec (POL), Kornel Paszkiewicz (POL)
