Hearts produced a remarkable escape act in Vienna, overcoming a red card and a two-goal aggregate deficit to edge Rapid Vienna on penalties and secure a place in the Conference League main phase. Goalkeeper Beau Reus emerged as the unlikely hero, saving two spot-kicks to seal a 4-3 shootout win after the tie finished level at 4-4 on aggregate.
The playoff round second leg followed a 2-2 draw at Tynecastle, but Hearts' European campaign appeared to be slipping away when Tomas Magnusson was sent off in the 76th minute, reducing Wouter Vrancken's side to 10 men while already behind on the night to Ercan Kara's first-half strike.
Rapid had taken the lead in the 34th minute when Demir's low effort from the right deflected off Oisin McEntee and fell to the unmarked Kara, who tucked home from close range. The hosts had already been handed a boost earlier in the half when Tom Renaud was forced off after Rapid's Petter Dahl fell awkwardly during a challenge from Jordi Altena, with Magnusson introduced in his place.
Hearts had chances to level before the break, with Josh McPake and McEntee both testing the Rapid goal from distance, while Cláudio Braga saw his angled effort saved by Niklas Hedl. After the interval, Blair Spittal volleyed narrowly wide and both James Wilson and Braga missed further opportunities to draw the visitors level.
Just as Hearts' resistance appeared to be crumbling following Magnusson's dismissal for a second bookable offense on Jannes Horn, the Scottish side found an equalizer within minutes. Substitute Landry Kaboré adjusted his body to chest home Spittal's corner at the near post, forcing the tie into extra time.
The drama intensified in the additional 30 minutes. Calvin Miller fired Hearts ahead in spectacular fashion in the 100th minute, acrobatically volleying home a cross from fellow substitute Rogers Mato. But Rapid refused to yield, with Nenad Cvetkovic converting Moulaye Haidara's cross in the 119th minute to level the aggregate score at 4-4 and send the tie to penalties.
In the shootout, Miller, Altena, Mato and Sabah Kerjota all converted for Hearts, with only McEntee missing from the spot for the visitors. Reus proved decisive, denying both Haidara and Marco Tilio to complete the great escape and send Hearts through 4-3 on penalties.
The victory represents one of Hearts' most significant European results in over two decades and marks the third time in five seasons that the club has reached the Conference League's main phase.
For Vrancken, the win offers much-needed respite following a difficult run in continental competition. His side had suffered a 6-0 aggregate defeat to Sturm Graz in Champions League qualifying before losing 7-2 on aggregate to Benfica in the Europa League playoff round, including a heavy 6-1 defeat in Lisbon, results which had seen them drop into the Conference League playoff stage.
Hearts will now discover their opponents for the Conference League league phase, having navigated a dramatic route back to continental competition despite playing for more than 40 minutes with 10 men in Vienna.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.