DUTV
STORY OF THE MATCH | RANGERS (A)
25th November 2024
United progressed to the Scottish Cup Semi Finals with a narrow 2-1 victory over city neighbours Dundee. All the goals came in the first half. Brian McLean headed United ahead only for McAlister to equalise. With the game evenly contested, a moment of magic from Armstrong saw him set up Gary Mackay-Steven to score the winning goal.
United were dealt a major blow for the much anticipated William Hill Scottish Cup 6th Round tie against Dundee with Johnny Russell failing a late fitness test. The only change from the draw against Inverness was therefore Stuart Armstrong returning to the starting eleven in his place.
First Half:
The game started at a frantic pace and in a red hot atmosphere. It did not take long for the deadlock to be broken. With ten minutes on the clock, Mackay-Steven was fouled on the right. Douglas swung in a brilliant free kick and Brian McLean bulleted a header past the helpless Rab Douglas. Five minutes later United had a shout for a penalty when Mackay-Steven went down in the box but the referee waved play on. With 20 minutes gone the home side were back on level terms. Riley broke down the right and squared the ball into the penalty box and McAlister swept the ball past Cierzniak. Shortly after Riley was then cautioned for a blatant dive in the United box. Ten minutes from the break Dundee should have been ahead. Grassi lofted a free kick into the United box and the ball broke to Baird who saw his shot blocked by the feet of Cierzniak. United then went straight up the park and regained their lead. Armstrong collected the ball in the middle of the park and made a surging run. His inch perfect pass found the feet of Mackay-Steven and he fired the ball low past Douglas. Riley then tried his luck from 20 yards but Cierzniak tipped the ball round the post. With half time beckoning Gardyne and Armstrong exchanged passes at the end of the Dundee box and the former Ross County man saw his shot deflect just wide of the target. On the stroke of half time another fine run from Armstrong ended in a fine saving tackle from Irvine in the Dundee penalty box.
Second Half:
Seven minutes after the break United went close when, after Mackay-Steven was fouled, Flood lofted the ball into the Dundee box but Daly just failed to connect with a header and the ball was gathered by Douglas. Three minutes later United went even closer to extending their lead. Armstrong once again broke forward and this time he fed Mackay-Steven who in turn picked out Gardyne. The United man turned in the box and sent in a shot that Douglas turned round the post. Dundee then went close when a corner was knocked back to Davidson whose effort was cleared from the goal line by Barry Douglas. With 20 minutes left Dundee won a corner on the left. The ball was crossed into the United box and Grassi headed the ball down and Cierzniak did well to punch the ball clear. Shortly after Armstrong played a great ball along the Dundee six yard box but unfortunately Daly could not connect. With just over ten minutes left Dundee had a chance to level. Easton sent over a cross that Baird laid into the path of McAlister but the Dundee forward shot well over. On the 84 minute mark United went very close to a third. Mackay-Steven was fouled mid-way in the Dundee half. Flood sent a ball into the Dundee box which hit the head of Grassi and Douglas made a great save to keep his team in the game. The final few minutes of the match saw United frustrate their hosts as they kept possession and saw out the match to advance to the semi final.
Summing Up: A hard fought Cup tie in which United did not play particularly well however Jackie McNamara will be delighted to have led his side to a Cup Semi Final in his first season in charge at Tannadice.
Man of the Match - Stuart Armstrong. He had a fine match in the middle of the park and his run and pass provided the moment that in the end won the cup tie.
Teams:
Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Toshney, Grassi, Easton, Riley (Stewart 72), Davidson, McAlister, Conroy, Milne (Nish 80), Baird Subs: Baird, Benedictus, McBride
United: Cierzniak, Watson, McLean, Dillon, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Gardyne (Ryan 65), Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Daly
Subs: Banks, Millar, Souttar, Gauld
Referee : Iain Brines
Attendance - 10191
Click here for our Photo Gallery.
United were dealt a major blow for the much anticipated William Hill Scottish Cup 6th Round tie against Dundee with Johnny Russell failing a late fitness test. The only change from the draw against Inverness was therefore Stuart Armstrong returning to the starting eleven in his place.
First Half:
The game started at a frantic pace and in a red hot atmosphere. It did not take long for the deadlock to be broken. With ten minutes on the clock, Mackay-Steven was fouled on the right. Douglas swung in a brilliant free kick and Brian McLean bulleted a header past the helpless Rab Douglas. Five minutes later United had a shout for a penalty when Mackay-Steven went down in the box but the referee waved play on. With 20 minutes gone the home side were back on level terms. Riley broke down the right and squared the ball into the penalty box and McAlister swept the ball past Cierzniak. Shortly after Riley was then cautioned for a blatant dive in the United box. Ten minutes from the break Dundee should have been ahead. Grassi lofted a free kick into the United box and the ball broke to Baird who saw his shot blocked by the feet of Cierzniak. United then went straight up the park and regained their lead. Armstrong collected the ball in the middle of the park and made a surging run. His inch perfect pass found the feet of Mackay-Steven and he fired the ball low past Douglas. Riley then tried his luck from 20 yards but Cierzniak tipped the ball round the post. With half time beckoning Gardyne and Armstrong exchanged passes at the end of the Dundee box and the former Ross County man saw his shot deflect just wide of the target. On the stroke of half time another fine run from Armstrong ended in a fine saving tackle from Irvine in the Dundee penalty box.
Second Half:
Seven minutes after the break United went close when, after Mackay-Steven was fouled, Flood lofted the ball into the Dundee box but Daly just failed to connect with a header and the ball was gathered by Douglas. Three minutes later United went even closer to extending their lead. Armstrong once again broke forward and this time he fed Mackay-Steven who in turn picked out Gardyne. The United man turned in the box and sent in a shot that Douglas turned round the post. Dundee then went close when a corner was knocked back to Davidson whose effort was cleared from the goal line by Barry Douglas. With 20 minutes left Dundee won a corner on the left. The ball was crossed into the United box and Grassi headed the ball down and Cierzniak did well to punch the ball clear. Shortly after Armstrong played a great ball along the Dundee six yard box but unfortunately Daly could not connect. With just over ten minutes left Dundee had a chance to level. Easton sent over a cross that Baird laid into the path of McAlister but the Dundee forward shot well over. On the 84 minute mark United went very close to a third. Mackay-Steven was fouled mid-way in the Dundee half. Flood sent a ball into the Dundee box which hit the head of Grassi and Douglas made a great save to keep his team in the game. The final few minutes of the match saw United frustrate their hosts as they kept possession and saw out the match to advance to the semi final.
Summing Up: A hard fought Cup tie in which United did not play particularly well however Jackie McNamara will be delighted to have led his side to a Cup Semi Final in his first season in charge at Tannadice.
Man of the Match - Stuart Armstrong. He had a fine match in the middle of the park and his run and pass provided the moment that in the end won the cup tie.
Teams:
Dundee: Douglas, Irvine, Toshney, Grassi, Easton, Riley (Stewart 72), Davidson, McAlister, Conroy, Milne (Nish 80), Baird Subs: Baird, Benedictus, McBride
United: Cierzniak, Watson, McLean, Dillon, Douglas, Flood, Rankin, Gardyne (Ryan 65), Armstrong, Mackay-Steven, Daly
Subs: Banks, Millar, Souttar, Gauld
Referee : Iain Brines
Attendance - 10191
Click here for our Photo Gallery.
