Trialist Ghislain Guessan scores for Hearts U-20s in victory

Ghislain Guessan fires home Hearts opener. Pic: SNS

Trialist striker Ghislain Guessan scored Hearts Under-20s' first goal in a 2-1 win over Dundee United at Riccarton.

Manager Craig Levein cast his eye over Guessan as his trial period nears an end. It remains to be seen whether Hearts decide to offer him a contract, but the Ivorian did his chances no harm when he found the net.

The 25-year-old left Norwegian club Viking last month and is available as a free agent. He has been training with the Hearts first team since last week and was given a chance to impress in the Under-20 side.

Inside the Oriam Scotland indoor astrodome, a through ball by Malaury Martin found Guessan in behind the United defence on 25 minutes. His attempted left-footed ball across goal was blocked by centre-back Luc Bollan. However, Guessan collected the loose ball and dispatched it high beyond goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet with his right foot.

Hearts were 1-0 ahead at the interval and looked in relative control until the closing stages. United drew level with ten minutes remaining through Louis Appere. He collected a long ball and drove it low past Jack Hamilton - and the visitors looked destined for a point until they were reduced to ten men.

Forward Idris Kadded appeared to throw a punch at Hearts defender Chris Hamilton and was ordered off. Hearts then made the most of their one-man advantage in the dying seconds.

Striker Aidan Keena cut in from the right to loft a shot towards the top corner of the net. Mehmet got a hand to the ball but couldn’t keep it out of the net, and Keena set off to celebrate his winner.

Hearts (4-2-3-1): J Hamilton; Godinho, Gajda, C Hamilton, Sandison; Martin, Petkov; Ritchie (Zanatta 60), Morrison, Keena; Guessan (Ward 79).

Unused subs: Mason, Grigor, McGill.