Birkirkara wrote a new chapter in the history of Maltese football when they beat Scottish giants Hearts 2-1 at Tynecastle to reach the third qualifying round of the Europa League this evening.

It’s an extraordinary feat from Drazen Besek’s men who are the first Maltese side to have progressed so far in a UEFA club competition and now await a tie against Russian side Krasnodar with a place in the group stages of the competition at stake.

As expected, Hearts dominated proceedings.

On 27 minutes, Callum Paterson picked Jamie Walker whose overhead kick came off the bar.

The home side had an even better chance ten minutes from the break. Cain Attard brought down Sami Nicholson inside the area but from the resultant penalty Prince Buaben saw his shot saved by Birkirkara goalkeeper Miroslav Kopric.

On the restart, Hearts continued to keep control of proceedings but it was Birkirkara who took the lead on 55 minutes

They were awarded a free-kick and Dimitrov’s cross was not cleared by the home side with the ball falling to Christian Bubalovic who hit a firm drive that flew into the top corner of the net.

The woodwork denied Hearts a second time on 57 minutes when Nicholson’s shot came off the upright.

But it was Birkirkara who doubled their lead on 67 minutes when in a quick foray Edward Herrera sped through and beat Hamilton with a firm drive.

Hearts were rattled and they managed to pull a goal back on 73 minutes when Conor Sammon headed the ball home from Djoum’s cross. 

But that was too little too late as Birkirkara held on to an historic qualification.