Hearts beat Rapid Vienna on penalties to reach Conference League

Hearts secured a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Rapid Vienna on August 26, 2026, to advance to the league phase of the UEFA Conference League. The Scottish side, reduced to 10 men for much of the match, prevailed 4-3 on penalties after a 2-2 draw in the second leg at the Allianz Stadion, resulting in a 4-4 aggregate scoreline. The win marks a significant European achievement for the club, earning them a place in the competition's main phase for the third time in five seasons.

The match began with Rapid Vienna asserting early dominance. The Austrian side created chances in the opening minutes, with Yusuf Demir and Tonni Adamsen testing Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus. Hearts suffered an early setback when midfielder Tom Renaud was stretchered off in the 15th minute following a collision. The hosts took the lead in the 34th minute when Ercan Kara scored from close range after a deflected shot from Demir.

Hearts improved after the break, with captain Blair Spittal and others creating opportunities. However, their task became significantly harder in the 76th minute when substitute Tomas Magnusson received a second yellow card, leaving the team with 10 players. Despite the...