Hearts quickly poked fun at Celtic’s European misery after beating Rapid Vienna on penalties to book a place in this season’s Conference League.
A night after Celtic collapsed against Austrian champions LASK in the Champions League play-offs, surrendering a four-goal advantage in the tie to lose in extra time, the 10 men of Hearts overcame Tomas Magnusson’s red card to defeat Rapid away from home.
Celtic pipped Hearts to the Premiership title on the last day of the season last campaign and while the Scottish champions will still go through to the Europa League, the Edinburgh side posted on social media: “Winning play-offs in Austria isn’t for everyone…”
Hearts drew 2-2 with Rapid at Tynecastle last week and their hopes of extending their European journey appeared slim when they were reduced to 10 men when midfielder Magnusson received a second yellow while they trailed to Ercan Kara’s first-half goal.
While Landry Kabore equalised to force extra time and Calvin Miller volleyed Hearts ahead in the 100th minute, Rapid forced penalties right at the death when Nenad Cvetkovic made it 4-4 on aggregate.
But Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus made two saves in the shoot-out, as Hearts qualified for the Conference League for the third time in five seasons.
Wouter Vrancken’s had previously lost heavily to Austrian side Sturm Graz in the second round of Champions League qualifying before a 7-2 aggregate defeat to Portuguese giants Benfica in third qualifying round of the Europa League.
Speaking last night, Celtic captain Callum McGregor accepted there were no excuses for the players after their Champions League play-off collapse.
McGregor put his team 4-0 up on aggregate against LASK when he struck from 18 yards in the 21st minute in Austria but they went on to lose 5-1 on the night after extra time.
Defeat sends Celtic into the Europa League and delivers a damaging financial blow that will cost the club at least £20m.
“We got what we deserved,” McGregor told Amazon Prime. “I thought we were so passive. All night. We actually looked scared to go and win the game, and when you are 3-0 up it’s psychological.
“To be honest I didn’t think we were that good in the first leg either. We scored at good times and kind of got away with it. You go 3-0 and you think you’ve got a real chance but when you play like that you can’t have any excuse whatsoever.”
Includes reporting from PA
