Alloa 0 Hearts 4

Juho Makela grabbed a hat-trick as Hearts claimed their place in the CIS Insurance Cup quarter-finals with a 4-0 win over stubborn Alloa.

The Finnish striker revelled in a rare start for the Edinburgh side, who made a full 11 changes from the team which beat Motherwell on Sunday.

Makela struck towards the end of an unconvincing first half but a second straight after the interval put the game beyond the Second Division club at Recreation Park.

The striker completed his treble eight minutes from time after Alloa had been reduced to 10 men and Bruno Aguiar rounded off the victory with two minutes to go.

The Jambos might have switched a full team but the strength of the squad was evident as they put out an experienced side which included Takis Fyssas and Robbie Neilson.

Lithuanian Kestutis Ivaskevicius made his debut while the Hearts fans got a chance to see summer arrival Christos Karipidis.

Makela the Jambos' first sight of goal after eight minutes but his 20-yard shot flew a foot wide.

The Finn saw a back-heel easily saved moments later but the chances did not signify Hearts were getting to grips with the game.

The Wasps had a good chance soon after when Robert Sloan rolled a free-kick to the unmarked David McClune on the edge of the area but he blazed well over.

Hearts struggled to find any rhythm and Alloa worked the next chance midway through the half, but Graham Brown headed Sloan's free-kick a yard wide.

Former Hearts player Sloan saw a 25-yard drive saved by Steve Banks.

But the visitors took the lead in the 34th minute when the unmarked Makela headed home a Fyssas cross.

Two minutes later, the Greek defender almost scored himself after Neil McCann broke forward and played him in but Fyssas shot over under pressure.

Hearts suffered a blow when Karipidis limped off after a lunging tackle from Brian McColligan, with Alan Lithgow coming on.

Thirty seconds after the re-start Makela slotted home after a brilliant Neil McCann through ball.

The goalscorer set up Roman Bednar five minutes later and he squared to McCann but Steven McKeown cleared off the line.

McColligan had a 25-yard shot comfortably saved by Banks as the hosts fought hard to get back into the game.

Alloa had the Edinburgh side on the back foot for 15 minutes but struggled to create any clear chances.

Their best opportunity came with 12 minutes left when a far-post cross fell for Ross Hamilton.

The midfielder looped a header over Banks but Lithgow cleared off the line.

McCann had the ball in the net within a minute after Neilson's low drive was parried by Alan Creer but the offside flag was up.

But Chris Townsley was sent off for a second yellow card in the 79th minute following a foul on Andrius Velicka.

Makela killed the game off three minutes after a clever Velicka flick. His first effort was well saved but the Finn rolled home the rebound.

Aguiar rounded off the win with a glorious 25-yard chip in the 88th minute.

Teams

Alloa Creer, Townsley, McColligan, Forest (Bolochoweckjy 53),Ovenstone, McKeown, Grant, McClune (Hazeldine 67), Sloan,Hamilton, Brown (McAulay 78).

Subs Not Used: Hutton, Comrie.

Sent Off: Townsley (79).

Booked: Sloan, Townsley, Grant.

Hearts Banks, Neilson, Fyssas, Karipidis (Lithgow 45), Berra,Beslija (Jonsson 45), Aguiar, Ivaskevicius, McCann, Makela,Bednar (Velicka 60).

Subs Not Used: MacDonald, Thorarinsson.

Booked: Jonsson, Ivaskevicius, Fyssas.

Goals: Makela 34, 46, 82, Aguiar 88.

Att: 2,551

Ref: C Richmond (Scotland).

Taken from sportinglife.com