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Hearts slashed by the Lethal Killers as Wouter Vrancken's desperate Benfica plea falls on deaf ears – big match verdict Record Sport's Craig Swan was in the Portuguese capital to witness the dismantling of the Jambos Wouter Vrancken had Hearts well warned about Benfica’s lethal killers. But his team's attempts to stay out of harm’s way failed miserably as the Tynecastle outfit’s Europa League aspirations were murdered. In the Stadium of Light, it was record-equalling darkness for Vrancken and his tortured troops. Home boss Marco Silva may have enjoyed watching the Gorgie near-title story unfold last season, but his team weren't interested in any Jambo fairytales in their own backyard. Instead, with the merciless streak Vrancken had tried to guard against, Benfica inflicted six deep and painful wounds. Rafa Silva’s opener inside the opening seconds was a disastrous start for the visitors and they were three down at the break as home skipper Tomas Araujo’s header and in-form striker Vangelis Pavlidis’ penalty added to the Benfica tally. Although Laurent Mendy hit the bar in that opening period, a further concession after the interval to Gianluca Prestianni was another hammer blow. Sub Tom Renaud’s sharp finish gave the visiting fans something to cheer, but there was no way Benfica weren't going to have the final say and they kicked Hearts twice more when they were down. Sub Jhon Duran, formerly of Aston Villa, slotted a Benfica fifth three minutes from time and sub Andreas Schjelderup's injury-time penalty meant a five-goal defeat, which equalled the 5-0 Euro loss to Spurs 15 years ago. Some will say Vrancken set up too open. Others will suggest that, no matter how a team is set-up, if players don't track runners, don't mark properly at set plays, give away both the ball and silly penalties at various stages of a game, it makes no difference how a side is laid out. Nonetheless, it was the last thing Vrancken needed. Although clear underdogs going into the clash, the brutal manner of this fourth straight loss as gaffer and the dreadful mistakes made within it will have stung. In truth, without some excellence from keeper Beau Reus, it could have been a bigger scoreline. Next up for the Belgian’s team is Dundee United on Sunday, but Thursday’s return leg of this third qualifying round encounter is now a hopeless task. Defeat was expected by many observers, but Hearts didn’t help themselves in terms of the severity. Vrancken had cause for alarm with the sloppy start and the sluggish finale which created the hefty final scoreline. In a city full of steep climbs, this was always going to be an uphill task. Glamorous, yes. But also deeply daunting and intimidating. The travelling fans, estimated at just under 2,000, high up in the top tiers dwarfed by a passionate home support. The setting was stunning. From a Scottish perspective, however, events on the pitch were far-less appealing on the eye and it could not have started any worse. There were Portuguese punters having a party in the Fan Zone over three hours prior to kick-off and, once Vitoria the Eagle had done a traditional fly around and landed on his club podium as mascot, boss Silva’s boys almost immediately dug their claws into Vrancken’s side. Benfica smashed four goals in the second half against St Gallen the previous week and needed less than three minutes to open their account. Reus had already saved from Gianluca Prestianni, back after serving a UEFA ban for a slur towards Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior last term, before an incisive move saw Leandro Barreiro saunter to the byeline. He had time to pick his pullback and it was perfect for the advancing Silva who stroked a comfortable finish low into the net. Right there and then, the notion it was going to be tough going for Hearts was just cemented and Reus was quickly having to deny Barriero and Prestianni. Vrancken had wanted his team to be positive in possession and Pierre Landry Kabore and Alexandros Kyziridis took the places of Amadou Ba-Sy and Sabah Kerjota in attacking positions in a line-up. However, it wasn’t personnel that was the issue. It was getting anything up to them as Benfica penned them in. As back-up goalkeeper Samuel Soares was mainly spectating on a rare start, it was coming at Reus constantly and, having tipped over Barreiro’s header midway through the opening period, Benfica’s second came from the resultant corner. Georgia Sudakov’s bread-and-butter delivery saw Araujo outmuscle the away rearguard and plant a header which Reus could not stop going over the line, despite getting hand to it. Vrancken’s team just couldn't handle their hosts, yet, out of nowhere, almost a lifeline. Laurent Mendy’s bravery on the ball deep in his own territory let Hearts get forward and win a free-kick through Calvin Miller. When the winger curled the award into the box, the French midfielder bulleted a header against the crossbar with the rebound bouncing to safety. If that was good from Mendy, his next act made no sense. Caught wrong-side as Prestianni darted onto a back heel in the box, his decision to tug him down was an easy penalty decision for referee Marian Barbu. Vrancken bemoaned "stupid" penalty concessions and this was the first of two. Pavlidis took the spot-kick and rifled it with power and precision high past Reus before the Greek had another effort into the net ruled out for offside just before the end of a torturous first-half for Hearts and their boss. Hearts had to stem the bleeding. Vrancken introduced Jamie McCart and Renaud for the restart with Harry Milne and Mendy off to try and earn some respite. But, with Benfica in the mood, the last thing Hearts needed to do was bring grief onto themselves and one of those initial subs did just that before the hour which led to a home fourth. Renaud’s slack pass at the edge of his own area was swooped upon by Prestianni and his subsequent finish high into the top corner was a thing of precise beauty, except for those connected with Hearts. Vrancken’s team showed some character and reduced the deficit with 20 minutes to go. Renaud made up for his error with a sweet touch and finish after Blair Spittal and sub Sabri Guendouz excellently created the opportunity. However, their pain wasn't over and there was a finale which irritated the boss. Of course, no-one is happy at losing a game 4-1, but, given the situation faced at the half-time, it would not have been a disaster. Instead, Hearts allowed themselves to be caught out twice more before it was done. Duran slotted home near the finish after superb work from Andreas Schelderup and the Dane’s penalty, awarded after a VAR check for an Oisin McEntee handball, lashed home in stoppage time dished the final pieces of hurt to Hearts. Benfica had the ability to kill. Sadly for Hearts, they left themselves open to those fatal blows.