Hearts of Oak were given a huge reality check in Tunis when Esperance de Tunis totally outclassed them in their pre-group stage clash, picking up a huge 4-0 win.

Hearts have somewhat miraculously made their way through the stages to this point, surmounting one improbable obstacle after another. In Tunis, they faced the mother of all improbable tasks.

And there was no miracle this time around, with the Tunisian giants hammering Hearts by 4 goals to nothing. Almost providentially, Ghanaian full back Harrison Afful managed to get in his own goal in the rout of his compatriots.

And frankly, terrible finishing and the astonishing form of Hearts keeper Soulama is what kept the score line at the barely passable 4-0.

Nigerian Samuel Edouk grabbed a brace, with Ghilane Chalaali and Afful rounding up the scores.

Hearts return to Ghana with their tails between their legs, to prepare for the perfunctory second leg that is bound to see the Tunisians qualifying for the money zone of the competition.