Lawrence Shankland’s well-taken penalty sent Hearts on their way to a 2-0 Europa Conference League win over RFS in Latvia.
Shankland struck two minutes before half-time and substitute Alan Forrest netted in stoppage-time to kickstart Hearts’ European campaign.
Hearts had lost six of their previous seven games including a 4-0 home defeat by Istanbul Basaksehir in their opening group match but they were well worth the three points at Skonto Stadium in Riga.
Robbie Neilson’s side overcame the loss of Craig Halkett to injury on his comeback to move second in Group A.
Hearts had an early scare against a team who held Fiorentina in Italy last week, when Craig Gordon pushed Brazilian midfielder Emerson’s strike on to the bar.
But the visitors settled down and Josh Ginnelly forced a save before almost getting on the end of a fumble from the goalkeeper following Stephen Kingsley’s cross.
Halkett was making his first appearance since suffering a hamstring injury four weeks ago but the centre-back had to go off midway through the first half. With Kye Rowles also injured, Lewis Neilson came on to join Kingsley in the middle of a back four.
Hearts celebrate after Lawrence Shankland’s opening goal
The disruption gave the home side a lift and centre-forward Andrej Ilic was played clean through the middle only to take a poor touch.
Again Hearts settled and Andy Halliday forced two saves before Shankland put a ball across the face of goal which Barrie McKay was too slow to respond to.
McKay was the catalyst for the move that led to the penalty with a turn and run which ultimately led to Halliday’s cross being handled by Elvis Stuglis. Shankland fired the spot-kick into the top corner.
Gordon made two impressive stops following free-kicks into the box in the closing stages of the half but Hearts started the second period in a controlled manner.
Shankland threatened with an ambitious effort and McKay and Ginnelly continued to look dangerous.
RFS manager Viktors Morozs was sent off by the referee during the game
Former Dundee United centre-back Neilson was growing into the game and Hearts had several chances for a second.
Shankland had a shot saved on the counter attack but would have had a better chance had Ginnelly’s pass not gone behind him.
Kingsley and Halliday also forced decent saves before Hearts came under some late aerial pressure.
But Gordon was untroubled as Hearts defended well and they sealed the points two minutes into stoppage-time.
Cammy Devlin had options either side on the counter attack and set up Forrest to drill inside the near post.
Neilson: We have a chance against Fiorentina
Hearts manager Robbie Neilson dedicated their European win in Latvia to the supporters and talked up their chances of causing an upset against Fiorentina next week.
“I’m absolutely delighted, for the fans first and foremost because we brought about 2,000 here and it’s going to be a raucous night in Riga, that’s for sure,” he told BT Sport.
“And for the club and players it’s absolutely brilliant. It’s been such a long time since we won a game in Europe and to come away from home and go home sitting second in the group is magnificent.
“I think Istanbul will run away with the group because they are a top, top team. Fiorentina are very good but we have a chance against them next week at Tynecastle.”
Neilson added of striker Shankland: “I’m delighted for him. The last couple of games we have not really created a lot of chances for him and it’s been difficult.
“But we got a couple of players – (Andy) Halliday and (Jorge) Grant – a bit closer to him and we got a lot more out of Lawrence. He could have probably scored one or two more as well.”
What’s next for Hearts?
Hearts go to Motherwell this Sunday in the Scottish Premiership, before the season breaks for international fixtures.
When the league resumes in October, the Jam Tarts host Rangers, live on Sky Sports, before playing Fiorentina in the first of two Europa Conference League clashes against the Italian side that month.
