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There are some players who are only to be talked about in hushed tones. Treated like confidential information. Before uttering their name, it requires a suspicious glance over the shoulder, a pause, before a reluctant whisper, fearful someone is going to overhear and react. Badly.

Gordan Petric is one such name for Hearts fans.

Anyone of a maroon persuasion in the 14,488 crowd at Tynecastle Park on the night of 28 September, 2000, will forever have that one moment, that one chance, that ‘what if’ etched in their mind.

Steven Pressley put Hearts in front in the second-leg of the tie at Tynecastle. Picture: SNS

With the Stuttgart defence pushing out, current Hearts boss Robbie Neilson clipped a lovely pass to the lanky Serb standing all alone in the Germans box with 86.17 on the clock in the second leg of the first round Uefa Cup tie…

The late kick-off

It was a moment which didn’t seem likely during large parts of the two-legged affair.

A fine performance from Antii Niemi in the first-leg, meant there was always a chance back in Gorgie, trailing just 1-0.

Hearts midfield ace Colin Cameron battles for possession with Stuttgart's Seitz. Picture: SNS

Despite their middling status in the Bundesliga at the time – qualifying for the Uefa Cup via the Intertoto Cup – Stuttgart weren’t short of talent. Goalkeeper Timo Hildebrand was being watched by Manchester United and there was legendary Bulgarian midfielder Krassimir Balakov.

It was, however, a somewhat makeshift Hearts side took the lead through Steven Pressley and levelled the tie at what was an unusual looking Tynecastle, advertisements for Krombacher, OBI and e-ON, the game having been moved to a 9pm kick-off to satisfy the German broadcasts demands.

Yet, by the hour mark, the game seemed over. The Germans led 3-1 on aggregate and had two away goals. The third, after 58 minutes, sucked the life out of the ground, aside from the 400 visiting supporters in the Main Stand.

The 'what if’, which had all but evaporated, was piqued four minutes later as Petric headed in with Hildebrand looking suspect once more from crosses.

Gordan Petric is most remembered at Hearts for that miss. Picture: SNS

The ball fell to Petric...

The game required a finale. Something fans could get their teeth into, allowing them to get way ahead of themselves. What better way for it to arrive than some pandemonium with no one having any clue what was going on.

Substitute Gary McSwegan was fouled on the edge of the box, prevented a clear goalscoring opportunity. The referee thought free-kick, his linesman a penalty. Thankfully for Hearts, the latter’s decision was taken. The referee subsequently made a mess of the red card. Colin Cameron, familiar with pressure penalties, scored.

The fans had their finale and the ball fell to Petric.

Close your eyes and you can relive the horror. Time, space, a bouncing ball, 16 yards out. Petric resembled one of those wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube men at car dealerships, firing the ball high into the Gorgie Stand as fans fumed.

Jim Jefferies men had further chances to win it late on, but it will always be the Petric miss which is the chaperon to one of those nearly nights for Hearts in Europe.

Hearts: Recalling the night Paul Hartley's penalty split the Old Firm and secured Champions League spot

When Hearts came so close to upsetting Stuttgart in a captivating Uefa Cup tie - and that Gordan Petric miss