Hearts reach Conference League after penalty shootout escape in Vienna

Hearts are through to the Conference League proper after beating Rapid Vienna 4-3 on penalties, surviving a night in Austria that had a bit of everything: a red card, an injury that left a player on the ground, two extra-time goals, and a goalkeeper who turned out to be the shootout hero.

The tie was level at 2-2 from the first leg at Tynecastle — James Wilson's 30-yard screamer the highlight that night, though a late Rapid goal denied Hearts a win (Yahoo Sports). In the return, Rapid took the lead through Ercan Kara, who turned the ball in from six yards after Demir's low shot was deflected by Oisin McEntee (The Guardian).

Before that, Hearts had suffered an early blow. Defender Tom Renaud was carried off in the 15th minute after Rapid attacker Petter Dahl fell awkwardly on his leg following a foul by Jordi Altena. Things got worse after the break: Tomas Magnusson received a second yellow card in the 76th minute for a trip on Jannes Horn, leaving Hearts to play the remainder with ten men.

Down to ten and needing a goal, Hearts found one. Substitute Landry Kaboré chested Blair Spittal's corner into the net at the near post to level the match on the night. Then, ten minutes into extra time, Calvin Miller met a cross from substitute Rogers Mato with an acrobatic volley to put Hearts ahead on aggregate.

It looked enough. It was not. In the 119th minute, Nenad Cvetkovic found the net for Rapid, pulling the aggregate score back to 4-4 and sending the tie to penalties.

Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus had the final word. He saved from Moulaye Haidara and Marco Tilio in the shootout, and when Rapid's third attempt failed to convert, Hearts had done enough. Calvin Miller, Jordi Altena, Rogers Mato and Sabah Kerjota all scored for Hearts; Oisin McEntee was the only one to miss.

For manager Wouter Vrancken, it is a first European group-stage campaign in charge of the Edinburgh club. Hearts have now reached the Conference League proper for the third time in five seasons.

The journey to this point was anything but smooth. Hearts lost 6-0 on aggregate to Sturm Graz in the Champions League qualifiers, then fell 6-1 in Lisbon and 7-2 on aggregate to Benfica in the Europa League playoff round, dropping into the Conference League path as a last route into European competition (The Guardian).

Three European rounds, three different competitions, one narrow escape. Hearts will take it.