Hearts 1-1 Benfica: Player ratings, last chance saloon, Celtic in disguise, pride restored, Magnusson's impact

Sojourns in the Champions League and Europa League are over for Hearts, who now enter the last-chance saloon of their summer European adventure. They drop into the Conference League to meet Rapid Vienna following a 7-2 aggregate defeat by Benfica in the Europa League third qualifying round. The tie was killed by last week’s 6-1 first-leg loss in Lisbon before Thursday night’s encouraging 1-1 second-leg draw at Tynecastle Park.

Goals came from Hearts substitute Tomas Magnusson and Benfica’s Dodi Lukebakio within seconds of each other late in the game. The Edinburgh side looked far more solid and composed in this leg and will be pleased with a good performance against one of the favourites to win the Europa League. Having restored some pride, they now embark upon their third European tournament of the season.

The first leg of the Conference League play-off against Rapid is next week. Whoever loses will face outright elimination from European competition before the end of August. Wouter Vrancken named close to his strongest available team against Benfica as Sabri Guendouz and Stuart Findlay returned, but the Portuguese were never losing this tie following their first-leg romp.

Benfica last visited Tynecastle in 1960 en route to winning that season’s European Cup. Back then, players like Mario Coluna and Jose Aguas were red-shirted regulars, now it’s Georgiy Sudakov and Clement Lenglet - backed by around 638 supporters from Lisbon. They watched their goalkeeper Samuel Soares hold an early effort from Hearts forward Sabri Guendouz before the home goalkeeper, Beau Reus, deflected Richard Rios’ back-post attempt wide.

Danish winger Andreas Schjelderup was one of the visitors’ principal threats alongside Sudakov. Both roamed into spaces between Hearts’ defence and midfield to good effect. Sudakov slid in at the back post for Amar Dedic’s cross from the right on 23 minutes, but couldn’t connect. He did meet Dodi Lukebakio’s 29th-minute cross and headed straight at Reus. Benfica were, as expected, controlling possession, however Hearts offered more threat on the counter-attack than they did in the Portuguese capital.

Jhon Duran’s 36th-minute shot preceded Dedic’s header which deflected off Jamie McCart before striking the Hearts crossbar. At the interval, the locals seemed realtively content that their team were holding their own. The goalless scoreline didn’t trouble Benfica in the slightest given their five-goal cushion. Nonetheless, this was a pride-salvaging mission for Hearts and they were on course to achieve their aim after 45 minutes.

Claudio Braga headed into Soares’ arms at the back post early in the second period. Then came two scoring chances for Guendouz, both from Tom Renaud’s through balls. The first was the clearer of the two as Guendouz sprinted in behind the Benfica defence only to shoot wide of target from around 16 yards. The second was a prodded effort which Soares emerged to block. Hearts were getting closer, though. On 54 minutes they found the net when Calvin Miller converted Josh McPake’s cross - only for a VAR offside decision against McPake to kill the celebrations.

“Are you Celtic in disguise?” was the chant from the Tynecstle stands in response to that decision. The notion that Marco Silva’s side could quicken the tempo at any moment if they felt the need was hard to ignore. When Benfica did loom large as a threat, they often found the imperious Oisin McEntee in their way. The Irish midfielder was again deputising in central defence and again looked like it was his natural position.

Hearts remained confident and compact and earned their reward on 77 minutes when Magnusson struck. Three substitutes combined with Sabah Kerjota’s run on the right and a pass to Landry Kabore. He was challenged and the ball broke to Magnusson, who thundered the ball into the net from 22 yards. Home fans were still celebrating when Benfica equalised moments later, Lukebakio sweeping home a low ball from the left with a precise finish on 79 minutes.

McEntee was substituted as fans sang a chorus of his name to underline his impressive display. If Hearts are to reach league-stage European football this season, he will be an important figure. They will be determined to avoid the ignominy of three continental exits and know very well the significance of the imminent meetings with Rapid.