GOLD STAR FOR GIL; Top notch Rousset wipes out cup final heartache.

Just three months ago Rousset was left gutted when he lost a horror goal in the Jambos' 5- 1 Scottish Cup Final hammering by Rangers.

But last night the big French keeper turned in a breathtaking display which gives Hearts a great chance of reaching the Cup Winners' Cup first round proper.

Rousset pulled off FOUR blinding saves - and all of them from the golden boot of Yugoslav wonder boy 19- year-old Perica Ognjenovic.

And Hearts' display wraps up a superb week for Scotland in Europe following the exploits of Celtic, Aberdeen and Rangers.

Tynecastle boss Jim Jefferies declared before the match that his side were good enough to become the first British outfit to beat Red Star in their own back yard.

And Hearts soon showed they were not content to sit back and soak up the pressure.

In the fifth minute a clever ball from Gary Mackay was threaded through to Colin Cameron and, after he was tackled by Goran Djorovic, John Colquhoun pounced on the rebound only to shoot wide.

Three minutes later Zoran Jovicic's shot from 15 yards was whacked for a corner by Paul Ritchie.

Neil Pointon then worked his way inside the Red Star defence and found Colquhoun, but his cross was thumped away by Predrag Stankovic.

Ref Hermann Albrecht produced his first yellow card of the match after 10 minutes when Darko Anic was booked for a heavy challenge on Colquhoun.

The alarm bells were ringing in the Hearts defence when Jovicic delivered a perfect ball to Anic, who turned inside the box and fired a whistling drive inches past Gilles Rousset's right-hand post.

But Hearts missed a golden chance themselves in the 13th minute when Welsh international midfielder Jeremy Goss split the Red Star rearguard only for Colin Cameron to blast the ball over the bar from 12 yards.

It was end-to-end stuff and an inviting cross from Bratislav Zivkovic missed the head of Ognjenovic by a whisker.

Hearts breathed a huge sigh of relief after 18 minutes when Rousset somehow blocked a rocket shot from Ognjenovic with his legs.

Then on the half-hour Rousset's heart must have been fluttering when his kick- out clearance hit Jovicic. Thankfully, the ball rebounded wide.

Rousset was again the Jambos hero in 37 minutes when he made a brilliant diving save from a drive by Anic.

And five minutes before the break Stankovic showed good skills, but his 18- yarder on the turn went over.

Then, just on the half-time whistle, Ognjenovic was again desperately close with his shot from 12 yards.

But how Jefferies must have enjoyed his side's gritty first half performance - even if he had to endure some anxious moments.

But the boys from Belgrade were by no means finished. In the 49th minute Ognjenovic floated over a tantalising cross from the left and Pantelic got up well only to see his header sail over.

Rousset was back in action after 53 minutes when Ognjenovic cut inside the Tynecastle defence and fired in a shot from ten yards that was blocked by the keeper.

And it was Rousset again two minutes later, this time diving bravely at the feet of Anic as the Yugoslavs went flat out for a goal.

Hearts made their first change when Allan McManus came on for Stevie Frail who had run himself into the ground.

Rousset was harshly booked in the 56th minute, apparently for time wasting, and McManus became the second Jambo to be yellow carded for a foul on Stankovic.

Then Paul Ritchie joined them for a challenge on Ognjenovic

Kevin Thomas came on for John Colquhoun after 73 minutes.

And five minutes later Hearts survived another scare after a ferocious volley from substitute Dragan Vulevic thundered just past.

With just two minutes to go, Rousset put the finishing touches to a masterly goalkeeping display when he stopped an eight-yard effort from Ognjenovic.

RED STAR BELGRADE - Milosevic, Zivkovic, Djorovic, Njegus, Stankovic, Marinovic, Ognjenovic, Pantelic, Jovicic, Scankovic, Anic. Subs: Jevric, Bratic, Vanic, Vulevic, Boskovic.

HEARTS - Rousset, Frail, Ritchie, Weir, Bruno, McPherson, Goss, Cameron, Colquhoun, Mackay, Pointon. Subs: Fulton, McKenzie, McManus, Robertson, Thomas.

Referee - H Albrecht (Germany).

Taken from the Daily Record