Maroon memories: 'Brilliant best' in whirlwind finale

HEARTS were on fire when they turned around a 2-0 first-leg deficit in this Cup Winners Cup first round tie at Tynecastle – and manager John Hagart was later to describe the stunning win over Lokomtiv Leipzig as the team's greatest performance under his command.

"Hearts at their brilliant best" is how the boss deemed his side's showing in a thrilling European encounter on a night where the atmosphere was electric.

The signs did not look good however when, despite Hagart's men enjoying early momentum and scoring twice, the East Germans scored just before half-time; a goal they, and many others, thought would be enough to see them through.

There were rumblings too over the second-half substitution of Kenny Aird by Graham Shaw, though it was later revealed the club doctor had advised Hagart that Aird should not be risked for more than one hour due to a problem with his heel.

But, despite these setbacks, Hearts were to recover strongly and shattered Horst Scherbaum's team in a whirlwind finale that brought three goals in 11 minutes.

There was almost a sensational start to the game when Drew Busby smashed the ball against the post on 30 seconds. But the 18,000-strong Hearts support only had to wait until the 13th minute to celebrate their side's first breakthrough. Prentice lobbed the ball to Kay who beat goalkeeper Friese with a right-foot shot.

The Germans threatened and Brown saved on the line from Groebner but, on 28 minutes, Aird fired in a shot which Gibson poked into the net with a change of direction that deceived the Leipzig No.1.

Then came what many felt was a real hammer blow to Hearts' chances. Just four minutes before the break Frenzel and Leisiwicz carved out an opening which Fritsche duly dispatched to leave Hearts still requiring a further two goals for victory.

Haggart for one, though, saw it differently. He said: "The players weren't dismayed in the least at losing a goal. Having scored twice in the first half, everyone thought we could stick in another two to win."

Man of the match, skipper Jim Brown, was to set the tone for what followed. His marauding down the right after Aird was taken off was to prove inspirational. On 74 minutes the tireless skipper sprinted inside and delivered a deceptive lob which curled into the net to leave Leipzig shaken. And just 60 seconds later the visitors were reeling. Hearts went 4-1 up on the night and one goal to the good on aggregate when a Shaw header was nodded home by Busby.

To wrap up what was truly a spectacular fightback form the boys in maroon Gibson headed in a fierce cross from Busby. Against the odds, Hearts were two goals to the good and there was to be no way back for Leipzig.