FC Zurich vs Hearts

The Jambos are in Switzerland tonight for the first leg of their Europa League play-off.

[Robbie Neilson](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/robbie-neilson) had the luxury of a full strength squad to choose from. [here](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/newsletter-preference-centre/) to take yourself to our Newsletter Preference Centre. [Stephen Kingsley](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/stephen-kingsley) made his return from a hamstring injury with a 14-minute cameo and the question will have been was that enough preparation to be thrown into a tie of this magnitude? [Europa League](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/uefa-europa-league) over the Conference League and so a respectable scoreline over in Switzerland for the first leg of the play-off is required. From the cinch Premiership and League 2, to the Champions League and the Europa Conference League, we have every blade of grass covered. [Hearts](https://www.footballscotland.co.uk/all-about/hearts-fc) make their return to Europe after a six-year absence tonight.

Robbie Neilson's men are well in their Europa League play-off clash with dreams of reaching the group stages alive and kicking.

On at the break after a tough 45 for Atkinson. A couple of moments of magic with the home side doubling up on the tricky, speedy winger. Experienced defender brought on to bring a calm and composed head to proceedings. Huge save in the final minute to deny Zurich on the counter. Opened the scoring for the Jambos with a brilliant low penalty. Played on right of the three. Replaced at the break. Key defender forced off after just seven minutes in a major blow to the Jambos. Composed figure at the back. However, Swiss champions FC Zurich hit back with two goals in quick-fire fashion to turn the game on its head. Moments later, more poor defending allowed Blerim Dzemaili to blast high into the net to give the hosts a slender advantage ahead of next week. [Lawrence Shankland](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/lawrence-shankland) fired the Jambos ahead in the perfect start from the penalty spot after Nathaniel Atkinson was fouled in the box following a nice passage of play.

Kybunpark's sound system played Eminem's “One Shot” as a pre-match ditty and that's exactly what Hearts bring back to Tynecastle Park next week: One final ...

Hearts did not clear successive crosses into their penalty area and, when Peter Haring stuck out a toe to connect with the second delivery from Guerrero, the ball landed with Dzemaili. A textbook long ball forward from goalkeeper Brecher wasn’t dealt with by the backpedalling Atkinson, who headed into the air. Gordon produced an outstanding save high to his left to thwart Dzemaili moments later, with Zurich breaking at high speed and Hearts retreating. Shankland fed midfielder Cammy Devlin and he supplied the advanced Nathaniel Atkinson on the right. The second leg next Thursday evening promises to be a seismic occasion in front of a raucous Gorgie crowd. The early stages didn’t suggest anything to overawe those in maroon. One of those forways led to a penalty just after the 20-minute mark. The home crowd would have been greater in number had their Stadion Letzigrund been able to stage this match. Around 1,000 travelling fans gathered at the west end of a very atmospheric stadium, many of them having partied all afternoon in St Gallen’s beautiful old town centre. They travel to Tynecastle hoping to capitalise on that lead with a capable forward line. Zurich engaged in some pre-match mind games at Wednesday’s press conference by announcing that they were without the former Hearts winger Donis Avdijaj because of injury. A 2-1 defeat to FC Zurich in this play-off first leg is no disaster, albeit the Edinburgh club will perhaps feel they should have taken more after scoring first.

The Edinburgh side lost 2-1 but remain in the tie ahead of the return leg at Tynecastle.

Hearts had barely had time to digest that blow when they found themselves behind. Nathaniel Atkinson made a move into the Zurich box and Selnaes caught the Hearts player’s ankle with his studs. Craig Halkett appeared to pull a muscle when stretching for the ball and was replaced by Toby Sibbick.

HEARTS' EUROPA LEAGUE dreams were dented by Zurich's quickfire double whammy.But this was no Swiss rollover from Robbie Neilson's men. Far from.

But half-time came at a good time for the men in maroon as it gave them a chance to regroup. And he combined with Guerrero when the wing-back volleyed wide in the 67th minute. And he was not to be denied this time as he thumped the ball into Gordon’s top left hand corner. Again Gordon was equal to the task, turning his shot around his near post for a corner. It was a decision that was greeted with fury by the home players and bench. The move appeared to break down when the Aussie was crowded out when got into the box. And having got a break at one end Hearts then got another one at the other. But the ex-Jambo was in the starting line-up to face his former club. And then Dzemaili stung the hands of the Scotland keeper with a thunderous free kick. The defender immediately went down holding his hamstring and was unable to continue. But when they got to the Kybunpark it was rainy and 19 degrees. But the Jambos were out in force with over 900 of them travelling over from Edinburgh.

Robbie Neilson's men are still well in the tie as they welcome the Swiss champions to the capital next week in what will be a massive night under the lights ...

The Scotland striker fired his spot-kick low and hard to the right hand side to send the travelling support wild. However, FC Zurich hit back with two quick-fire goals inside two first-half minutes to turn the game on its head. The first came from a long punt down the field that the visitors failed to deal with. [Jambos](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/heart-of-midlothian-fc) stood tall with No1 Gordon making a massive save in the final moments to keep his side well in the tie ahead of next week's return in the capital. The Swiss champions pushed for a third and had a number of big chances early in the second period but the [Lawrence Shankland ](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/all-about/lawrence-shankland)fired the Jambos ahead in the perfect start for Robbie Neilson's men from the penalty spot after Nathaniel Atkinson was fouled in the box following a nice passage of play.

FC Zurich 2-1 Hearts: Scottish football's travelling woes continue as Hearts join Rangers, Dundee United and Motherwell in losing abroad despite Lawrence ...

Atkinson was at fault for the equaliser in the 32nd minute. The manner of the strikes was particularly galling for Neilson. Hearts then made their mark when they went ahead in the 22nd minute from the penalty spot. Shankland kept his cool from 12 yards, driving a low effort into the bottom left-hand corner despite Yanick Brecher guessing the right way. As the teams sized each other up, there was little flow to the match. Out went forwards Alan Forrest and Liam Boyce despite the pair having been key figures in the team’s good start to domestic action.