Heart-break as AEK end Scots euro dream

TWO sendings off and three late goals ended Hearts’ Champions League dreams as Valdas Ivanauskas’ team slumped to a 3-0 defeat in Athens last night.

What was already an uphill task for Hearts with a 2-1 first leg deficit to overturn became an impossible mission after Frenchman Julien Brellier’s first half dismissal for collecting two yellow cards and Neil McCann’s departure midway through the second on a miserable night for the Edinburgh club.

AEK man of the match Julio Cesar scored twice in the last 11 minutes, one from the penalty spot in the 79th and another a fine side-footed strike from just inside the penalty area.