THIS was never going to be a foregone conclusion but Hearts' defeat to Maltese minnows Birkirkara must rank alongside the more depressing of results for Scottish teams in Europe.
Goalless after the first-leg away from home, the Gorgie outfit had this tie in their own hands. However, a missed penalty from Prince Buaben and strikes against the crossbar from Jamie Walker and Sam Nicholson were a sign that it was not going to be their night.
Second-half strikes from Christian Bubalovic and Edward Herrera meant Conor Sammon's first goal for the club was no more than a consolation as boos greeted the full-time whistle from an angered home support.
Head coach Robbie Neilson had expressed a desire for an early goal but with the caveat that it could take 85 minutes, rather than five, for the breakthrough to come against a team that had set out to frustrate seven days previously on their own patch.
Birkirkara sprung a surprise in their line-up by going with a two-man strike-force and almost sourced another shock just two minutes in as the quick-fire breakthrough nearly came for the Maltese outfit. They were to prevail in the end, sparking wild celebrations with their 56-strong support.
The visitors worked an early short corner from the left and Dimitrov Srdan's cross from threatened to miss everyone on its way to the net before Jack Hamilton palmed it away from goal. The young goalkeeper then sprung to his feet to make another block.
Hearts slowly settled into proceedings but, with Sammon too often isolated on his own up front, there was little to cheer a large and expectant home crowd.
Patience was the key word from the home camp in the build-up to the second-leg and, just as it appeared to be wearing thin in the stands, Hearts came within a whisker of the opener. Callum Paterson, released by an excellent ball inside the opposition full-back by youngster Liam Smith, eventually threw over a cross but Walker's acrobatic hitch-kick volley bounced down and up against the crossbar.
The Gorgie hosts then had an even better opportunity to make the breakthrough when Cain Attard crudely ended Sam Nicholson's penetrating win and referee Ville Nevalainen pointed to the spot. However, Buaben's effort was terrible and easily saved.
Walker then had a curling effort from out wide booted off the line by Emerson Marcellina just before the break and nine minutes after the interval disaster struck. A long free-kick was not cleared properly and eventually bobbled into the path of Bubalovic, who hammered in from 14 yards out.
Nicholson then crashed a superb drive off the crossbar and substitute Juanma had an effort saved before Arnaud Djoum blasted the rebound over as the tension was ratcheted up a notch in the knowledge Hearts required two goals to go through. That quickly became three when Herrera rolled in a second for Birkirkara on the break.
Sammon nodded in a Djoum cross with 18 minutes remaining but the grandstand finish required never really materialised on a poor night for Hearts and for Scottish football.
Hearts: Hamilton; Smith (Juanma 58), Ozturk, Rossi (Muirhead 73), Rherras; Djoum, Buaben (Cowie 80); Paterson, Walker, Nicholson; Sammon. Subs not used: Noring, Souttar, Zanatta, Godhino.
Birkirkara: Kopric; Attard, Bubalovic, Marcellina, Zerafa; Scicluna (Camenzuli 90), Sciberras, Srdan (Guillaumier 72), Bajada (Jovic 66); Herrera, Plut. Subs not used: Akpan, Djordjevic, Buttigieg, Marrotti.
Referee: Ville Nevalainen (Finland).
Attendance: 14,301.
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