Hearts fail to do their Italian job

RAY HEPBURN

8 Nov 1990

Bologna 3, Hearts 0

(Aggregate 4-3)

HEARTS' hopes of reliving the wonderful run they experienced in the UEFA Cup two years ago were dashed in the Ronato Dall'Ara Stadium in Bologna yesterday as they failed to raise their performance to European standards.

Nevertheless, the Edinburgh side were just 17 minutes away from a famous victory in this historic city before two late goals put them out of the competition.

"The team did not play well enough.

Bologna deserved to win," conceded manager Joe Jordan afterwards.

"We came here thinking we had a chance with a two-goal lead, but the first goal gave them heart and confidence.

We intended to try to play our normal game and also to score here.

I'm disappointed that we didn't do more."

Jordan, adopted by football fans in Italy after having had successful spells with AC Milan and Verona, had gambled on the fitness of John Robertson by including him from the start after his hamstring injury.

The striker, however, never was given the service to make his usual impact.

Predictably, Bologna were a different proposition on their own patch than they had been at Tynecastle two weeks ago when Hearts could have won by more than the 3-1 margin they achieved.

The return of Hungarian international Lajos Detari, who had missed the first leg at Tynecastle, was a significant factor.

He scored the opening goal after 19 minutes, and set up the vital second goal for skipper Renato Villa 17 minutes from time.

Gigi Radice, the Bologna coach, admitted that he had thought seriously about hauling the £3m striker off after only ten minutes of the second half because of his knee injury, but Detari proved such a change would have been premature.

John Colquhoun and Iain Ferguson, doubtful because of injury beforehand, joined Robertson in the Hearts' attack at the kick-off, but Wayne Foster was ruled out because of a heavy cold.

Hearts survived an early scare.

With just five minutes gone, Notaristefano -- who netted in the first leg -- sent the ball over from the left, and Detari had time to look up and pick his spot.

Amazingly, the Hungarian star thumped the ball into the side netting.

The Tynecastle side had another let-off ten minutes later.

This time it was Notaristefano who broke clear, but, with only Henry Smith to beat, he hit the ball over the top.

Hearts did not heed these warnings, and in the nineteenth minute, they found themselves a goal down after a mistake by Scottish international defender Craig Levein.

Verga put through a hopeful pass for Detari to chase, and Levein tried to head the ball back to Smith.

But there was not enough power in his header, and Detari nipped in to round the keeper and shoot into the empty net.

Hearts were in further trouble after 26 minutes.

Smith lost the ball at a corner kick, but he recovered superbly to deny Verga with a fine diving save.

The Edinburgh side then had strong penalty claims turned aside when Biondo looked to have handled an Iain Ferguson shot.

Smith kept out a header from Bonini, the San Marino international, with an amazing point-blank save on the hour mark before flopping on to the rebound.

But the second goal was only delayed.

After 73 minutes, Detari beat McKinlay on the right, and his cross was forced in by Villa.

The clinching goal came five minutes from time.

Verga picked out Mariani, who raced through to beat Smith with a low, 15-yard shot.

Iain Ferguson had a late chance to take the tie into extra-time, but his shot, on the stroke of full-time, was wide of target.

Four players were booked -- Levein, Robertson, and Colquhoun of Hearts, and Cabrini of Bologna.

BOLOGNA -- Cusin, Biondo, Cabrini, Verga, Villa, Tricella, Mariani, Bonini, Campione, Detari, Nosaristefano.

Substitutes -- Poli, Lorenzo, Negro, Valleriani, Iliev.

HEARTS -- Smith, Mackay, McKinlay, Levein, McPherson, Kirkwood, Colquhoun, Berry, Robertson, I Ferguson, Bannon.

Substitutes -- Crabbe, McLaren, Kidd, Walker, D Ferguson.

Referee -- W Van Swieten (Holland).

Taken from the Herald