Hearts -3 Fiorentina: Scots suffer a blow to Europa Convention League knockout qualification hopes with a hefty defeat – as Lewis Neilson pink compounds woes
Hearts were outclassed by Fiorentina in the Europa Conference LeagueRolando Mandragora and Christian Kouame gave Fiorentina a 2- 50 %-time leadTeenage defender Lewis Neilson was despatched off after the interval for a final-gentleman foulLuka Jovic done the scoreline for readers with minutes left at Tynecastle
Hearts’ hopes of progressing in the Europa Conference League endured a detrimental blow on Thursday as they had been outclassed by Fiorentina at Tynecastle.
The cinch Premiership side trailed 2- at the break and then had teen Lewis Neilson sent off early in the next half as they crashed to a chastening 3- loss in a one particular-sided come upon.
The outcome saw Fiorentina leapfrog Hearts to move into next position in Team A. The Edinburgh outfit travel to Florence for the rematch future 7 days knowing they will just about absolutely have to stay clear of defeat to have any possibility of qualifying for the knockout period.
Lewis Neilson (suitable) was provided his marching orders as Hearts ended up crushed 3- by Fiorentina
Referee Erik Lambrecht shows a pink card to Neilson next his past-person foul on Luka Jovic
Rolando Mandragora (remaining) watches on as his header presents Fiorentina the guide at Tynecastle
Hearts produced 3 modifications to the facet that started off very last weekend’s 4- defeat at dwelling to Rangers as Cammy Devlin, Alan Forrest and Stephen Humphrys dropped out to be changed by Andy Halliday, Josh Ginnelly and Jorge Grant.
Fiorentina arrived in Edinburgh with only 1 win in their earlier 10 matches in all competitions and sat bottom of the Meeting League team with just a single issue to their name.
Their less than-tension manager Vincenzo Italiano despatched out a potent team, with former True Madrid striker Luka Jovic again in the crew soon after becoming remaining out for Sunday’s Serie A defeat at Atalanta.
Tynecastle was rocking as the teams emerged but the hosts received off to the worst achievable start out when Fiorentina took the lead with their to start with attack of the sport in the fourth minute as the unmarked Rolando Mandragora headed property Aleksa Terzic’s cross from the appropriate.
Hearts tried to uncover a reaction in the eighth moment but Michael Smith nodded straight into the arms of goalkeeper Pierluigi Gollini right after meeting Halliday’s delivery from the still left.
La Viola went near to doubling their guide in the 13th moment when Jovic driven a free header in excess of the bar following connecting with a corner from Cristiano Biraghi.
Christian Kouame (left) wheels away in celebration immediately after doubling the visitors’ direct
Hearts ended up struggling to get any type of foothold in the activity and goalkeeper Craig Gordon experienced to pull off an outstanding help you save in the 21st minute when he dived to his remaining to suggestion at the rear of a 25-garden thunderbolt from Fiorentina centre-back Igor.
Just as the hosts seemed like they may be weathering the storm, on the other hand, they conceded a second target two minutes in advance of the break when Christian Kouame pounced to smash property a free ball from 8 yards out following Hearts failed to very clear a ball into the box from the still left.
The Jambos virtually pulled a person back again proper on half-time but Ginnelly was denied by Gollini immediately after having himself cost-free on the angle of the six-property box.
Immediately after a promising begin to the next fifty percent, Hearts’ hopes of preventing back again correctly evaporated when teenage centre-back again Neilson was revealed a straight pink card for a very last-man foul on Jovic in the 49th minute.
As Hearts chased an unlikely route back into the activity, Jovic sealed Fiorentina’s victory in the 78th minute when he completed off a counter-assault from close selection.
Jovic sealed the Viola’s victory with a counter-attacking end late on in Edinburgh
