ST GALLEN: Hearts’ hopes of reaching the Europa League group stage remain in the balance despite succumbing to a spirited comeback by Swiss champions FC Zurich.

Lawrence Shankland’s penalty put Hearts ahead in the play-off first leg in St Gallen, but Zurich scored twice in two minutes before the break through Adrian Guerrero and Blerim Dzemaili.

Hearts mustered a stronger finish, goalkeeper Craig Gordon produced a vital save in the last minute to keep the deficit at one goal.

Robbie Neilson’s side are already guaranteed group-stage football in the Europa Conference League, but will aim to overturn the deficit in Edinburgh next Thursday and join the likes of Manchester United and Arsenal in the second-tier competition.

But they will have to improve on their first-leg showing where, despite taking an early lead against a side rooted to the bottom of the Swiss top flight and playing 80km away from their home ground, they were sloppy in possession and loose at the back in a costly spell before the break.

Shankland gave them a great start when he fired a controlled penalty low into the corner after Nathaniel Atkinson was felled in the box, but Zurich levelled on 32 minutes in frustratingly simple fashion.

The loss of centre-back Craig Halkett to injury after six minutes was keenly felt as a long ball forward from the Zurich goalkeeper was headed up in the air by Atkinson, and Guerrero was quickest to react as he lashed a volley beyond the helpless Gordon.

Then, two minutes later, Peter Haring was robbed in midfield as Zurich launched a counter-attack and, after two balls into the box weren’t dealt with, Dzemaili smashed a fantastic shot into the top corner from 15 yards.

Hearts improved in the final quarter when striker Liam Boyce was brought on and, with better decision-making in the final third, might have drawn level.

But before that Zurich could have added further goals, with former Hearts player Donis Avdijaj going close twice and Guerrero slicing another volley just wide.

And in the 89th minute substitute Fabian Rohner charged through on goal and looked certain to add Zurich’s third, only for Gordon to deny him with his outstretched leg.

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