Hearts lost a third Conference League game in a row as Copenhagen cruised to a home victory.
The Danes bossed it throughout but Neil Critchley’s side did a decent job of keeping them at bay in the first half before conceding a cheap opener early in the second.
Former Celtic loanee Mohammed Elyounoussi found it easy to advance with the ball before finding Amin Chiakha who then found the net.
Craig Gordon kept the score at one with a couple of outstanding saves, one in particular from Chiakha especially impressive.
But the same player conceded a controversial penalty later on in the half and Indonesia international Kevin Diks tucked it away.
Hearts still have a very good chance of making the play-off stage with one point needed from the next game at home to Moldovans Petrocub.
Hearts centre half problems
When it rains, it pours.
Hearts had a double blow of losing both Stephen Kingsley and Frankie Kent to injury during the draw with Aberdeen but the latter was less serious than the former and returned to the side tonight.
But he had to come off during the first half and this time his problem looked a lot bigger.
Craig Halkett was his replacement for the last two games and wasn’t even in the squad tonight due to a back problem so it remains to be seen how fit he is for the trip to Kilmarnock and then Petrocub at home in the last Conference League game.
To make matters worse, right-back Adam Forrester is suspended for that one after being booked tonight. That means there would be a shortage of options there if Daniel Oyegoke is needed to play in the centre.
In the January transfer window, Neil Critchley is already targeting a centre-back but they will have to struggle on until then.
Hearts pay for one lax moment
Hearts had defended manfully during the first half to make sure they kept it level despite Copenhagen’s dominance.
Then three minutes into the second and – boom – it was 1-0.
The visiting defence stood off Mohamed Elyounoussi and allowed the former Celtic man to waltz through them and set up Chiaka for an easy finish.
Craig Gordon has still got it
Some have been asking whether Craig Gordon should still be the Hearts number one at 41, especially when a goalkeeper of the quality of Zander Clark is sitting on the bench.
He answered those tonight.
The veteran shotstopper kept his side in the game with multiple saves – but one in particular from Chiaka was ridiculous.
That was the second stop immediately after the opener as the game threatened to get away from the Jambos but he ensured it didn’t.
Conference League play-offs still on for Hearts
Despite losing three in a row in Europe, the Tynecastle men can still progress through the league phase thanks to the six points gained from the first two matches.
It’s believed one point should be enough and they will be favourites to take all three next week even with injury problems.