MATCH REPORT | A PROMOTION PARTY AT TANNADICE
4th May 2024
United secured safe passage into the next round of the Scottish Youth Cup with an exciting victory over local rivals Dundee in the 'wee derby'. Goals by Tumilty, Malaga (2) and Montgomery saw United advance despite a strong Dundee comeback.
A relatively quiet start to the game was certainly not a sign of what was to come as the first fifteen minutes proved largely uneventful. Indeed the first sign of goal mouth action came via a Rafa Malaga volley from a corner which ended up high in the stand behind the goal.
Dundee kicked in to life with a 20 yard free kick in 17 minutes which saw Ryan Booth make a great save from Skelly's curled effort. United took the lead in the 20th minute after great play by Coote set Tumilty free in the right hand channel. With defenders in front of him the United striker cut across the box and unleashed a strong left foot effort into the bottom corner of the net with keeper Gourlay stranded.
The lead was doubled just three minutes later. Again it was Coote who set Tumilty free and although Gourlay made a great save one on one the rebound fell kindly for Montgomery who slammed the ball home from around 14 yards.
[caption id="attachment_7546" align="alignleft" width="300"]
WATCH STEVE CAMPBELL'S POST MATCH INTERVIEW NOW[/caption]
Both teams continued to create opportunities but a two minute period just shy of half time proved a magnificent snapshot of the 90 minutes. Firstly great play by Gemmil and Colquhoun saw Booth save well however from the resulting rebound, Whighton was on hand to knock the ball home from six yards to bring the dark blues back into the game.
Within a minute controversy reigned supreme. A United corner was flicked on and met by Malaga at the back post but before he swept the ball into the empty net, the referees whistle blew hard to signal a penalty kick against Dundee for hand ball. In the ensuing discussion, Dundee Whighton was cautioned. Malaga stepped up to delightfully smack the ball home high into the keepers top left hand corner to make the half time score 3-1 to the tangerines.
HALF TIME: UNITED 3 DUNDEE 1
The second half started off a quieter affair with Dundee holding the majority of possession but neither team looking like adding to their respective scores. A strong period resulting in United surging 4-1 ahead right on 70 minutes and it was that man Malaga again. His 22 yard effort powering through the hands of Gourlay and into the bottom left hand corner of the dark blues net.
If United thought they were cruising through to the next round they were reminded it was not so within two minutes. A delightful Avoilo cross was met by Cameron six yards from goal and Booth could not prevent it becoming 4-2.
The excitement and tension was etched up another notch in 86 minutes when Montgomery was shown a second yellow card and United faced the last five minutes or so with ten men. Just as it looked as if the resolute defending would mean an easy end to the match, Whighton got Dundee's third with a beautiful glancing header from 16 yards in the 89th minute to make it 4-3.
Goalkeepers coming up for corners, last gasp challenges and nervous looks towards the referee's watch all ensued before the shrill of the whistle signalled United's march into the next round to much joy from the young terrors.
[caption id="attachment_7548" align="alignleft" width="300"]
VIEW THE GOAL'S CLIP NOW[/caption]
FINAL SCORE: UNITED 4 DUNDEE 3
Man of the match: Rafa Malaga was a constant threat and ultimately his goals were the ones that booked United's place in the next round.
Teams:
United: Booth, Ballantyne, McLaughlin, Montgomery, Souttar, Harwood, Lochhead, Smith B, Tumilty, Coote and Malaga. Subs: Clarkson, Robson (Replaced McLaughlin), McNaughton (Replaced Tumilty), Smith M (Replaced Coote), Duke.
Dundee: Gourlay, Lamond, Black, Allan, Kerr, Colqhoun, Carberry, Gemmil, Skelly, Wighton and Cameron. Subs: Beattie, Gallacher, Avoilo (Replaced Carberry), Warwick, Gibb.
Referee: Chris Fordyce.
WATCH STEVE CAMPBELL'S POST MATCH INTERVIEW NOW[/caption]
Both teams continued to create opportunities but a two minute period just shy of half time proved a magnificent snapshot of the 90 minutes. Firstly great play by Gemmil and Colquhoun saw Booth save well however from the resulting rebound, Whighton was on hand to knock the ball home from six yards to bring the dark blues back into the game.
Within a minute controversy reigned supreme. A United corner was flicked on and met by Malaga at the back post but before he swept the ball into the empty net, the referees whistle blew hard to signal a penalty kick against Dundee for hand ball. In the ensuing discussion, Dundee Whighton was cautioned. Malaga stepped up to delightfully smack the ball home high into the keepers top left hand corner to make the half time score 3-1 to the tangerines.
HALF TIME: UNITED 3 DUNDEE 1
The second half started off a quieter affair with Dundee holding the majority of possession but neither team looking like adding to their respective scores. A strong period resulting in United surging 4-1 ahead right on 70 minutes and it was that man Malaga again. His 22 yard effort powering through the hands of Gourlay and into the bottom left hand corner of the dark blues net.
If United thought they were cruising through to the next round they were reminded it was not so within two minutes. A delightful Avoilo cross was met by Cameron six yards from goal and Booth could not prevent it becoming 4-2.
The excitement and tension was etched up another notch in 86 minutes when Montgomery was shown a second yellow card and United faced the last five minutes or so with ten men. Just as it looked as if the resolute defending would mean an easy end to the match, Whighton got Dundee's third with a beautiful glancing header from 16 yards in the 89th minute to make it 4-3.
Goalkeepers coming up for corners, last gasp challenges and nervous looks towards the referee's watch all ensued before the shrill of the whistle signalled United's march into the next round to much joy from the young terrors.
[caption id="attachment_7548" align="alignleft" width="300"] VIEW THE GOAL'S CLIP NOW[/caption]
FINAL SCORE: UNITED 4 DUNDEE 3
Man of the match: Rafa Malaga was a constant threat and ultimately his goals were the ones that booked United's place in the next round.
Teams:
United: Booth, Ballantyne, McLaughlin, Montgomery, Souttar, Harwood, Lochhead, Smith B, Tumilty, Coote and Malaga. Subs: Clarkson, Robson (Replaced McLaughlin), McNaughton (Replaced Tumilty), Smith M (Replaced Coote), Duke.
Dundee: Gourlay, Lamond, Black, Allan, Kerr, Colqhoun, Carberry, Gemmil, Skelly, Wighton and Cameron. Subs: Beattie, Gallacher, Avoilo (Replaced Carberry), Warwick, Gibb.
Referee: Chris Fordyce.
