Shootout hero Reus revels in 'crazy & beautiful' Hearts success

Hearts goalkeeper Beau Reus says "nothing in the world" can beat the feeling of saving the penalties that sent his side into the Conference League. The Dutchman denied Moulaye Haidara and former Celtic player Marco Tilio as 10-man Hearts beat Rapid Vienna 4-3 on spot-kicks in Austria after the sides again shared four goals. Reus, who joined from Beveren this summer, said: "I screamed, I felt my head was exploding. "And then I remembered, like, 'Oh, I don't know if my feet were on the line.' Then when I saw the referee blow, I just went crazy." Reus was particularly delighted to see the reaction of the Hearts supporters after a night that secured league-phase European football. "It's so beautiful. And also for them, I think it's a night they will also never forget," he added. "I'm happy that I can be a hero, that they can be proud of me and happy with me. "That's why I came here, to make them proud and make them happy and experience nights like this, because there's nothing in the world that can beat this feeling." The 24-year-old described the victory as the best night of his career. "Unreal, above the world. I have to say, I never had an evening like this," he said. "It was just crazy from the start to the end. But yeah, I'm really happy we can advance, and we are now in a group stage. It's really nice." Reus revealed Hearts' new goalkeeping coach Gordon Marshall provided him with signals during the shootout to help him decide which way to dive. The plan had been discussed before the match, with the coaching staff having studied Rapid's potential penalty takers. "He gave me signs, and I'm really happy that we discussed it with Marshall and with all the other goalkeepers," he said.