Mohamed Salah scored one and created another as Trabzonspor beat Hearts 2-0 in the Conference League at Papara Park, although an injury-ravaged Jambos side left Turkey with plenty of credit for a spirited display.
Hearts arrived without several key midfielders and defenders after Sunday’s 7-1 defeat at Celtic Park, then lost left-back Harry Milne on the eve of the game to a suspected ACL injury. Winger Rogers Mato was pressed into service at left-back against Salah, while Jordi Altena started in midfield.
The visitors were the better side in the opening stages. Christian Borchgrevink forced Andre Onana into a save from distance, and from Calvin Miller’s corner Malachi Fagan-Walcott headed against the post from close range. Claudio Braga also headed straight at Onana from a Miller free-kick.
Trabzonspor appealed for a penalty after 15 minutes when Salah’s cross struck Altena’s arm, but VAR identified an offside in the build-up. Hearts manager Wouter Vrancken was booked soon after for protesting Borchgrevink’s yellow card.
The decisive moment came in the 32nd minute. Tomas Magnusson fouled Franculino as the striker drove into the box, and Salah sent his penalty straight down the middle as Beau Reus dived to his left.
Hearts’ night worsened six minutes before the break when Borchgrevink pulled up with a hamstring injury and was replaced by Stephen Kingsley. Reus then kept the deficit at one with saves from Franculino and Benjamin Bouchouari, while Hearts felt aggrieved not to receive a penalty when Braga went down under Melih Kabasakal’s challenge.
Hearts began the second half well, but Trabzonspor struck on 58 minutes. Salah and Franculino combined in a slick one-two, with Salah laying the ball into the striker’s path before Franculino curled a superb left-foot finish beyond Reus from 15 yards.
The goal was Trabzonspor’s 200th in European competition, and Salah’s involvement in both goals came on his 150th UEFA club appearance.
Trabzonspor were reduced to 10 men in stoppage time when Sidny Lopes Cabral picked up a second booking, but Hearts could not find a way back into the game.
The defeat leaves Hearts with one point from two league-phase matches ahead of their trip to Swiss champions Thun in a fortnight.