Match report: Union Berlin v Hearts
09.07.2011

Hearts crashed to their first pre-season defeat today, going down 3-0 to an impressive Union Berlin side.

A brace from Brazilian striker Silva and one from Simon Terodde gave the Berlin outfit a fully deserved victory at Stadion An Der Alten Forsterei.

Both sides took a while to get going in this one, content to keep possession in the opening stages.

Some wonderful individual skill from Mehdi Taouil after 12 minutes provided the first real chance of the match. The Moroccan danced past three Union defenders before dinking the ball over for Sutton, who fired over under pressure.

Obua came close six minutes later, flicking Hamill's free kick not too far wide of the far post.

Union went ahead after 26 minutes. Andy Webster on the ball with a clean sliding tackle, before being pushed over. The referee waved to play on and Silvio Carlos de Oliveira slotted home.

Efforts on goal were at premium, with most of the first half play taking place in midfield.

Simon Terodde found himself clean through on 38 minutes, but should have done better with his shot, side-footing wide with only Kello to beat.

Union captain Patrick Kohlmann drove forward from midfield and let go a left foot drive that sailed harmlessly wide just before half time.

Marius Zaliukas' glancing header from a Taouil corner shortly after the restart had the Union goalkeeper scrambling, but the ball sailed just wide of the far post.

Immediately after that, Union doubled their lead. Simon Terodde saw his first effort partially cleared by Webster, only for the ball to land back at the striker's feet, and he made no mistake in slamming the ball in to the top corner.

It was three five minutes later. Silva sprang the offside trap after a neat one-two and kept his composure to slide the ball under Kello to net his second and Union's third.

The Hearts No.1 had to be sharp off his line to deny Halil Savran on the hour mark, denying him from close range as the Germans proved increasingly dangerous on the break.

Hearts made a quadruple substitution in order to change things. On came Stevenson, Smith, Novikovas and McGowan for Black, Sutton, Mrowiec and Templeton.

Even so, all Hearts could muster in an attacking sense was a David Obua header that drifted wide and a wild Danny Grainger swipe with his right foot.

Gordon Smith should have grabbed a consolation with eight minutes remaining, although he somehow blasted over after Mehdi Taouil's swerving attempt came back off the post.

Both sides seemed content to see the game out after that, as Hearts fly home tonight ahead of Tuesday's friendly with Cowdenbeath.

Top Man: Danny Grainger.

Hearts: Kello, Hamill, Webster, Zaliukas, Grainger, Black, Mrowiec, Obua, Templeton, Taouil, Sutton.

Hearts World