Gorgie boys pay for going to sleep as the Canadians creep in at death

PAUL KIDDIE IN THE SWANGARD STADIUM

HEARTS were denied an opening tour victory against Canada B in Vancouver early this morning when the home side grabbed a controversial injury-time equaliser to leave the final score 1-1.

Striker Dennis Wyness had put the Jambos ahead with a well-taken strike in the 59th minute at Swangard Stadium, Dutchman Mark de Vries having done well to set his team-mate up.

The Gorgie outfit looked on course for victory but were denied right at the death when Josh Simpson netted with just seconds left to play, Hearts complaining that the goal had been offside.

With Craig Gordon sidelined by a thigh injury, Tepi Moilanen took over the goalkeeping duties for Hearts’ first game on their pre-season tour of Vancouver as they kicked off their International Pacific Soccer Series against at the Swangard Stadium in Burnaby.

New signing Jamie McAllister was handed his first start in a maroon jersey, the former Livingston and Aberdeen star slotting in at left-back in a 4-4-2 formation with Patrick Kisnorbo sidelined by a groin injury and Alan Maybury rested.

Much is expected of Stephen Simmons this season and he was handed a central midfield role alongside Paul Hartley, Phil Stamp and Joe Hamill patrolling the flanks.

Up front boss Craig Levein paired De Vries and Wyness as he contemplated his attacking options ahead of the new campaign.

Kevin McKenna would have been hoping to start against his home country but he had to be satisfied with a place on the bench, alongside Ramon Pereira, Neil MacFarlane, Neil Janczyk, Graham Weir and promising young winger Andrew Driver.

The beginning of the match was delayed for 15 minutes, Hearts kicking off under a blazing Canadian sun with the temperature still in the 80s despite the evening kick-off [local time].

The home side were first to threaten with just two minutes on the clock, Olivier Occean playing a one-two with Simpson before seeing his shot from the edge of the box saved low down by Moilanen to his right.

The Jambos responded almost immediately with Wyness setting up Simmons, the midfielder’s shot taking a slight deflection to allow Greg Sutton to save comfortably.

Hamill then burst down the left, his progress halted by a well timed tackle by Nevio Pizzolitto.

The Canadians should have taken the lead in the eighth minute, Mesu Mert finding space in the Hearts defence to get his head to Mauro Biello’s cross from the right but he couldn’t direct his effort on target.

Sixty seconds later and there was another let-off for the visitors. Andy Webster was caught in possession by Occean who strode forward and unleashed a powerful right-foot shot which came thumping back off Moilanen’s left-hand post with the keeper beaten.

Perhaps not surprisingly the hosts were enjoying the better of the opening exchanges, Hearts no doubt still coming to terms with the effects of jet lag after arriving in Vancouver. And there was no doubt the emerging Canadians were finding the bumpy surface of the Swangard pitch easier to adapt to.

The hosts’ confidence was underlined in the 13th minute, Tony Menezes attempting a shot from fully 40 yards, Moilanen having no difficulty dealing with the strike.

Two minutes later and the Finn was again in action, Mert set up by Occean but he failed to catch his shot properly, allowing Moilanen to gather easily.

Skipper Steven Pressley complained bitterly about a late challenge by Adrian Serious in the 20th minute but his complaints fell on deaf ears with referee Kevin Stott allowing play to continue.

The sun was still beating down and an injury to Occean allowed almost the entire Hearts team to take on water from the bench. And the refreshments almost did the trick with the visitors carving out their best opportunity in the 27th minute. Hamill found De Vries in the box and the Dutchman showed good vision to pick out Wyness 12 yards out but the striker failed to catch his shot cleanly and Sutton gathered easily.

With Canada B still in the ascendancy as the interval approached, Mert shot over from the edge of the box and Occean fired wildly over from a dangerous position.

On the stroke of half-time Simmons was given a ticking-off for a tackle on Serious, the challenge perhaps evidence of the Jambos’ frustration at the opening 45 minutes.

Half-time: Canada B 0, Hearts 0.

Paul Hartley tried to spark the Gorgie outfit into life with a characteristic burst from midfield minutes after the restart but he was crowded out by the combined efforts of Serious and Pizzolitto.

Hearts won a free-kick wide on the right but Hamill’s delivery was overhit and keeper Sutton was able to claim under no pressure.

Good footwork from Wyness on the edge of the box almost presented him with a shooting chance but Gabriel Gervais was alert to the situation and rescued his side with a well-timed interception. The leg-weary Jambos had restarted looking all the better for their half-time break and broke the deadlock in the 59th minute through Wyness.

De Vries was the provider, laying the ball back to the former Inverness Caley Thistle front man who gave Sutton no chance with a crisply struck left-foot shot, the goal bringing warm applause from boss Craig Levein and No.2 Peter Houston on the sidelines.

Moments later Phil Stamp burst into the Canadians’ box, Gervais coming to the rescue with a block tackle.

The home side got behind the Hearts rearguard in the 64th minute but a lack of composure let Chris Lemire down as he blazed over the bar.

The game had been played in a good spirit but referee Stott felt obliged to produce the first yellow card of the match when he cautioned Hamill after the winger had an altercation with full-back Pizzolitto.

Simmons had taken a knock earlier in the half and with 16 minutes remaining he was replaced by Janczyk, who had shaken off an arm injury sustained in training.

Moilanen had seen little action in front of his goal in the second period, but the Finnish star had to be alert to deny substitute Kevin de Serpa in the 76th minute, the keeper reacting well to dive to his right to save the striker’s shot after Simpson had unlocked the Hearts backline.

With tiredness taking its toll on the visitors, more opportunities started to fall the hosts’ way, although the Jambos had a lucky escape 12 minutes from time when Occean completely missed his kick from 12 yards out with the goal seemingly at his mercy.

It had been a tough shift for the visitors in strength-sapping conditions and Levein freshened up his attack with nine minutes remaining.

Weir replaced De Vries and the small band of Hearts fans were given their first glimpse of Spaniard Pereira when he came on for goalscorer Wyness. There was a worrying moment for Hearts when McAllister was forced off two minutes from time, the full-back in some pain with a hand injury after falling awkwardly under a challenge from Jamie Peters.

McKenna stepped off the bench to replace the defender much to the delight of the home crowd. And with the game having moved into stoppage time, the Canadian fans were on their feet when Simpson snatched a dramatic equaliser.

De Serpa was sent scampering down the right-hand side and while he appeared to have a golden chance to score himself as he burst into the box, he squared the ball across to Simpson, who buried a shot behind Moilanen from a tight angle at the Finn’s near post.

The Hearts defence though were quick to complain, with the goal having more than a hint of offside about it.

Canada B: Sutton, Pizzolitto, Hughes (Peters, 74), Menezes (Reda, 65), Gervais, Serious, Lemire (De Serpa, 69), Mert (Valente, 61), Occean, Biello (Dunfield, 66), Simpson.

Hearts: Moilanen, Neilson, Pressley, Webster, McAllister (McKenna, 90), Hartley, Simmons (Janczyk, 74), Stamp, Hamill, Wyness (Weir, 81), De Vries (Pereira, 81). Subs not used: MacFarlane, Driver.

Referee: Kevin Stott, California.

Attendance: 3000.

Taken from the Scotsman