Hearts began their anniversary celebrations in front of an enthusiastic Tynecastle crowd by defeating Spanish visitors Rayo Vallecano 2-1 on a night when a new signing stole the headlines.
Debut heroics from Ba-Sy
Amadou Ba-Sy marked his first appearance for the Jambos with two well-taken headers in the first half to establish a two-goal cushion. Both finishes arrived from set-piece or wide delivery situations and underlined the forward’s aerial threat and physical presence.
| Minute | Goal | Scorer |
|---|---|---|
| 18 | 1-0 | Amadou Ba-Sy (header) |
| 34 | 2-0 | Amadou Ba-Sy (header) |
| Second half | 2-1 | Sergio Camello (Rayo) |
How the game unfolded
Rayo began brightly and were close to taking the lead early on, only for Hearts goalkeeper Alex Schwolow to produce a smart block in the opening minutes. After a period of probing from the visitors, the home side progressively took control.
- Stephen Kingsley and Josh McPake combined effectively from wide positions to create both goals.
- Hearts had a further effort bounce off the woodwork before Ba-Sy added the second.
- Rayo, finalists in last season’s UEFA Conference League, reduced the deficit after the interval through Sergio Camello but could not find an equaliser.
There were several notable attacking moments for Hearts beyond the goals. Oisin McEntee had a headed chance from a set-piece that drifted over, while MJ Kamson-Kamara and Tom Renaud combined well in spells. Rayo offered a threat on transitions but were largely kept at bay by the home defence and Schwolow’s intervention early on.
Local context and implications
The friendly win will please supporters as the club marks its 140th anniversary in Gorgie. For the manager it provides encouragement about squad additions and set-piece routines ahead of the competitive fixtures. For Ba-Sy, the two goals on debut will raise expectations among the fanbase for the season ahead.
While pre-season results are not always indicative of competitive form, the performance gave Tynecastle supporters a lively evening and useful match minutes for squad members. Next fixtures and the manager’s selection choices will determine how the momentum from this display is carried into the campaign.
Match details supplied by club sources.
