Maroon memories: De Vries makes his Mark on Bosnians

Hearts 2-0 Zeljeznicar24 Sept, 2003

IN the build-up to this European clash, Zeljeznicar boss Amar Osim described Craig Levein's side as a one-trick pony outfit, showing a reluctance to try anything other than high balls into giant striker Mark de Vries.

At times, De Vries had two or three Bosnian men shadowing him but he set the tone for a fine 90 minutes with a header within 30 seconds which was saved by Kenan Hasagic.

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He linked well with Dennis Wyness and the pair came close to unlocking the visitors' rearguard on a couple of occasions, Hasagic producing a superb one-handed save at his near post to deny the summer signing his first European goal after 19 minutes.

De Vries was at the heart of everything going forward and it came as no surprise when he drilled home the 28th-minute opener after turning his marker inside the area, the goal helping to settle the Tynecastle crowd which had become increasingly impatient as the first half wore on.

A second goal was required to ease the nerves and De Vries was again in the thick of the action when it arrived with 59 minutes on the clock. He saw his header come back off the bar and, when Paul Hartley – recalled for his first game since the second week of the season – saw his follow-up blocked in a goalmouth scramble, the ball eventually bounced up into the path of Andy Webster and he gleefully headed home into an unguarded net. De Vries should have scored eight minutes from time but headed straight at Hasagic when it looked easier to score.

Play often got bogged down in midfield and Hearts missed the dynamic presence of Phil Stamp, the Englishman sidelined by a bruised foot. With him absent, the high tempo style of play which Levein had been hoping for never really materialised

"I thought it was a professional performance," said manager Levein afterwards.

"It wasn't a scintillating performance by any stretch of the imagination but I think that was due to our inexperience at this level."

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It may not have been the kind of victory which the punters had been hoping for against the relative unknowns from the Balkans but it proved enough.

The return leg in Sarajevo finished 0-0, which took Hearts through to meet Bordeaux where they secured a famous 1-0 victory in France before succumbing 2-0 in the second leg to their classy opponents.

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