Hearts signed off their preparations for the Premier Sports Cup group stage, running out 8-0 winners against East Kilbride in a closed doors friendly at K-Park.
First half strikes from James Wilson and Claudio Braga was followed by a six goal blitz in the second 45 – with Yan Dhanda, Musa Drammeh, and Sander Kartum all notching, with Blair Spittal scoring from the spot and Elton Kabangu bagging a brace.
The Jambos carved out the first chance after three minutes. Good running from Cammy Devlin brought him to edge of the box; his threaded ball across goal deflected into the path of Lawrence Shankland, who clipped the crossbar from close range under pressure.
Seven minutes saw real grit from Claudio Braga, who shook off his markers on the touchline and bulldoze towards the box. Sliding the ball across to James Wilson, his low strike was held by Freddie Owens as Hearts controlled the opening exchanges.
Hearts went agonisingly close to taking the lead 13 minutes, with the men in maroon denied three times in succession. Claudio Braga first hooked the ball over Owens in goal, with a heroic goal line clearance from Luke Main maintaining parity.
Lawrence Shankland hit the post on the rebound, before Calem Nieuwenhof’s dig from distance was blocked. Just a minute later, Hearts had their opener as James Wilson expertly weaved to the edge of the box, drilling a right footed swipe into the bottom left corner.
East Kilbride immediately hit back, with Ousman See seeing his sweet strike from 25-yards narrowly evade Zander Clark’s post by inches. The boys in maroon quickly regained control and had their second after 22 minutes.
Alan Forrest picked out an unmarked Claudio Braga on the edge of the box, with the Portuguese marksman coolly dispatching through a crowded goalmouth to make it 2-0 to Hearts.
Hearts almost had their third after 28 minutes as Braga sweeped a glorious reverse pass into the path of an oncoming Shankland, with his flick towards goal flashing just wide of the post. A minute later, another Braga ball picked out Harry Milne in the middle, who’s attempt from close range was held by Owens.
The onslaught continued, with Hearts going close once more after 32 minutes as Alan Forrest played a laser accurate Crossfield ball to Harry Milne. He cut inside and went for goal, with his lofted effort clipping the crossbar.
Delightful link up play between Shankland and Wilson saw the two advance towards the box, with Wilson’s cross finding Shankland with space inside the box – his downwards header blocked by a blue shirt.
HT: East Kilbride 0-2 Hearts
Derek McInnes shuffled the pack in the second 45, with no fewer than ten changes except for Zander Clark who remained between the posts. 55 minutes saw East Kilbride carve out a decent chance as Keir Foster hit a vicious strike from the edge of the box that blasted wide of the post and rippled Clark’s rear netting.
57 minutes saw Hearts net their third – a fine team move culminated in Yan Dhanda going one-on-one with the ‘keeper, drilling another sweet effort home to make it three and easy for the boys in maroon.
On the hour mark, Hearts had a penalty after Sander Kartum was brought down in the area by Luke Main. Blair Spittal converted from the spot with a low finish into the bottom right corner of the net.
The goals were coming thick and fast for the Jambos by then, with Hearts grabbing their fifth after 62 minutes. A delightful cross from Stephen Kingsley picked out Elton Kabangu in the box, who forced the ball over the line from close range to make it 5-0.
Musa Drammeh added the Jambos’ sixth after 68 minutes, curling a screaming effort into the top left corner. The seventh followed minutes later on 72 minutes as Elton Kabangu led the counter up the park, culminating in a drilled strike across goal that nestled in the bottom right corner.
The eight arrived after 79 minutes; good running on the right from Kabangu saw the ball crossed to a waiting Sander Kartum in the box – who tapped home a simple finish.
Goal number nine almost arrived a minute later as Yan Dhanda’s cross picked out Stephen Kingsley on the other side of the box, his sweet volley shooting just past the post. There were no further goals, and Hearts now look forward to the visit of Dunfermline on Saturday.
Hearts First Half XI: Clark, McEntee, Milne, Findlay, Kent, Devlin, Forrest, Nieuwenhof, Shankland, Braga, Wilson
Hearts Second Half XI: Clark, Borchgrevink, Halkett, Steinwender, Kingsley, Kartum, Baningime, Spittal, Musa, Dhanda, Kabangu
Unused subs: Fulton, Stone, Denholm, Forrester,
