Hearts report and player ratings v Dinamo Minsk: Yan Dhanda the hero, celebrations kill eerie atmosphere

On the banks of the Caspian Sea, 2,575 miles from Tynecastle Park, Hearts ended a 10 game run without a victory thanks to a stoppage-time winning goal against Dinamo Minsk. Yan Dhanda’s late header secured a 2-1 victory inside the empty Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium in Sumqayit, Azerbaijan, in what could be a monumental moment in the Edinburgh club’s season.

This game was hardly a scintillating on the eye as Stephen Alfred’s fine opening strike was cancelled out by Sergei Politevich’s own goal. The match looked to be finishing 1-1 but substitute Dhanda glanced home Lawrence Shankland’s header after 94 minutes, sparking loud celebrations among the Hearts camp. Those continued at full-time.

Interim Hearts manager Liam Fox took charge of his first European tie after stepping into the dugout for Saturday’s Premiership match against Ross County - which ended 1-1 thanks to Shankland’s late equaliser. Twice in five days late headers had proven the worth of playing to the final whistle for Hearts. They had failed to win any of their competitive games this season before travelling to this far edge of the Continent. They are now unbeaten after two games under Fox, whose records so far reads one win and one draw.

Minsk have lost only one game in the Belarusian Premier League since November, although in Europe their ability to compete with many clubs is clear. They entered the Champions League qualifiers as title-winners but quickly dropped to the Europa League after losing to Ludogorets of Bulgaria. Anderlecht then sent them down further into the Conference League.

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This is the furthest Hearts have travelled for a competitive game, however there were no fans to witness a small piece of history. UEFA ordered that this tie take place behind closed doors in a neutral country as part of their stance against Belarus for helping Russia invade Ukraine. Dinamo will play all three Conference League ties here in what was a bizarrely eerie atmosphere for a European match.

Fox made three changes following his first game in charge against Ross County on Saturday as Barrie McKay, Blair Spittal and James Penrice returned to Hearts’ starting line-up. Dinamo kept faith with their two-goal weekend hero, the Ivorian midfielder Boni Amian. The game began at a frantic speed as McKay, Lawrence Shankland and teenager Adam Forrester - making his European debut five days after his senior debut - hit shots off target.

Hearts wanted the Swedish referee Mohammed Al-Hakim to take action against the Dinamo centre-back Aleksandr Sachivko when he appeared to kick out at Alan Forrest on 10 minutes. The game continued and 10 minutes later the Belarusians took the lead. Brazilian left-back Rai Lopes scampered clear of a hesitant Alan Forrest to deliver a low cutback which Alfred ruthlessly dispatched into the far corner of the net first time.

As Dinamo’s celebrations echoed around the empty arena, there was a horrible feeling of déjà vu for Hearts. They took time to stabilise themselves before forcing a 36th-minute equaliser. Penrice’s corner glanced off the head of the Minsk defender Politevich and into the bottom of the net, leaving goalkeeper Fedor Lapoukhov helpless.

There was an undeniable lack of quality on show from both teams if the truth be told. Dinamo were drawn from Conference League Pot 6 and looked it. Hearts are a Pot 4 side but glaringly low on confidence after 10 games without a win. The entertainment level did not improve much after the break, the lack of proper scoring opportunities obvious. Shankland curled an effort at goal which Lapoukhov pushed away to his left on 62 minutes as the away side pushed for a second goal.

Midfielder Spittal was one of the most actively involved players in maroon and did his case for a more regular starting place no harm at all. Cammy Devlin was also among Hearts’ better players, although flair out wide was too often conspicuous by its absence. Shankland tried again for a goal on 75 minutes - this time his low effort on the run was collected by Lapoukhov.

Some frustrations spilled over at times as Hearts players had a few choice words for one another. The Dinamo coach Vadim Skripchenko was also seen bawling at his charges a number of times. Those exchanges would not normally be heard with supporters present. Hearts stuck together and received their reward in the dying seconds.

Substitue Jorge Grant hooked across towards Shankland, his header was flicked into the net by Dhanda for his first Hearts goal since arriving in the summer from Ross County. The roar from Hearts players and staff conveyed a mixture of relief and joy. Dhanda had secured a much-needed result to take on the long journey back to Edinburgh, one which gives the Tynecastle side maximum points in the Conference League table after the first round of fixtures.