Stunning James Wilson strike helps Hearts secure draw with Rapid Vienna

James Wilson scored a stunning goal as Hearts fought out an entertaining 2-2 Conference League play-off first-leg draw with Rapid Vienna.

After going behind to Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao’s powerful first-half header, the hosts responded well with two quickfire goals of their own following the break.

Josh McPake fired in the equaliser before Wilson, just six minutes after climbing off the bench, unleashed an unstoppable drive from 30 yards.

However, the Gorgie side’s hopes of taking a slender lead to Vienna for the return leg were dashed when Nikolaus Wumbrand levelled.

Hearts head coach Wouter Vrancken made several changes to the team that eventually saw off Inverness in a 6-2 Premier Sports Cup win on Sunday.

Claudio Braga, Pierre Landry Kabore, Jordi Altena, Josh McPake and Blair Spittal all returned to the starting XI.

A 6-0 Champions League qualifying defeat to fellow Austrian side Sturm Graz was still fresh in the memory for Hearts as they set off in this encounter.

And the hosts were fortunate not to be behind after just nine minutes.

Vienna skipper Matthias Seidl was found with a piercing pass, but his effort from point-blank range was repelled by Beau Reus.

Rapid looked dangerous when they attacked, and Reus was called up again moments later to make another fine save.

Jannes Horn swung over a dangerous cross, and Petter Dahl got a touch at the back post, but the Belgian goalkeeper scrambled across and palmed clear amid protests from the visitors that the ball had crossed the line.

Hearts were not so forceful at the other end, and Tom Renaud lashed an ambitious shot from the edge of the box well over.

Hearts’ resistance was finally broken on the half-hour mark. Bendeguz Bolla whipped in a dangerous delivery from a short corner, and Raux-Yao bulleted a header past the hapless Reus from six yards.

Hearts’ response to going behind was good. McPake cut inside and drove a fierce shot towards the near post that was saved by visiting goalkeeper Niklas Hedl.

Claudia Braga and Renaud then struck shots from distance, but neither found the net.

Hearts had more of a spring in their step at the start of the second half as they attempted to draw level, and McPake, moments after he fired an effort just wide, restored parity for Hearts in the 55th minute.

The winger drove into the area after running on to a Kabore pass, and his left-footed shot from an angle hit off Raux-Yao before crashing into the net.

Tynecastle was bouncing, and the noise levels rose again when Wilson scored a stunning goal just seven minutes later.

There was little on for the 19-year-old when he picked the ball up in the middle of the park but the Scotland cap unleashed an unstoppable drive from 30 yards to beat Hedl.

It was an impressive turnaround from Hearts but the Austrians struck again in the 79th minute to level.

Nico Bajlicz teed up Wurmbrand and the striker’s low drive through a ruck of bodies nestled in the net.