Match Report
Tuesday, 25th October, 2011
Bairns in dreamland as United bow out...
United maybe just shaded a fairly even first half, with most of their threat coming from quick balls into the box. Keeper Michael McGovern pulled off some brilliant saves in the opening period and looked in tremendous form. Falkirk took the lead through Farid El Alagui, but United hit back two minutes later through substitute Johnny Russell. It was anyone's game and the game went into extra time. United went into a 2-1 lead through Daly, but Ally Graham equalised with three minutes of extra time left. It finished 2-2 and it was down to penalty kicks. Falkirk's youngsters held their nerve and won 5-4. Michael McGovern was in outstanding form and he had a match to remember. All the team were heroes on an unforgettable night to be a Falkirk supporter.
The visitors kicked off in an eerily quiet Tannadice Park and there was a good travelling support up to see if Falkirk could gain revenge for their previous defeat in this competition. That night Richard Cadette scored a hat-trick, but Falkirk lost on penalties. It was Falkirk's youngest ever squad with no fewer than ten teenagers stripped. Stephen Kingsley replaced the injured Tam Scobbie at wing-back and Mark Millar's place went to Blair Alston. The pitch showed signs of the recent heavy rain and one goalmouth looked to have cut up quite badly. Falkirk were in their usual kit and the home side likewise. It was a good night for a match and most of the early noise came from the Bairns support. There were quite a few in the press box who were unfamiliar with the Falkirk line-up, and it was a great opportunity for the youngsters to make a name for themselves.
The first chance fell to Scott Robertson who headed a Willo Flood corner narrowly past the post with the goal at his mercy.Falkirk were lucky to survive that attack and the youngsters seemed to be a wee bit off the pace, not entirely unexpected against SPL opponents. Falkirk were chasing back well and closed down at every opportunity. The main out ball was Higginbotham or El Alagui and they showed that they had the pace to trouble United if the service was right. The Falkirk fans were in full voice as they encouraged their team to keep coming forward at every opportunity. The youngsters were certainly not over-awed and looked comfortable as the half progressed. Farid El Alagui got a header on target from a lofted cross into the box from Stephen Kingsley.
United fans rose to acclaim what they thought was a goal after Lauri Dalla Valle headed towards goal, but Michael McGovern pulled off a great save to tip the ball onto the bar and over for a corner. It would have given the keeper great confidence, although he injured himself in the process and required treatment. The two former United players in the Falkirk team, Dods and McGovern, had started well and would want to put on a show in front of their former employers.
Falkirk survived another scare when Flood fired a low cross across the box and Dalla Valle's first time effort whistled past McGovern's left-hand post. Next, just on the half hour mark, Daly fired in a shot from the edge of the box which came back off the junction of post and crossbar with McGovern at full stretch. The Falkirk goal had another narrow escape when Murdoch allowed the ball to run to Robertson whose shot looked to be heading for the top corner of the net, but again McGovern brought off a fantastic save. Kieran Duffie was booked in 35 minutes for pulling back Paul Dixon, who had beaten him for pace down the United left flank
Murray Wallace was impressing the neutrals with his cool distribution and neat flicks. Kingsley headed a Robertson effort away as United turned up the pressure and Falkirk were pinned back for a spell. With five minutes to half-time, United were maybe just edging matters, but Falkirk were by no means out of the game. They showed in raids from defence that they were capable of worrying the home side, and were not being out-fought in any shape or form. A flicked header by Daly from a Dixon cross almost opened the scoring, but the ball went agonisingly wide for those of a tangerine persuasion. Manager Steven Pressley was spoken to by referee Calum Murray for protesting a decision by the touch-line.
Half Time: DUNDEE UNITED 0 FALKIRK 0
United started well and Robertson fired in another thumping shot which deflected off Dods for a throw-in. It was hard to believe that the two teams were a league apart, as Falkirk continued to pass the ball well and look comfortable. There was a reminder that United were dangerous when Dalla Valle headed goal-wards, but McGovern gathered the low ball well. It was his last action of the evening as he was soon replaced by Johnny Russell. United threatened again when Daly headed over from the edge of the 6-yard box, and Falkirk seemed to be riding their luck. El Alagui was winning almost everything in the air and the game was finely balanced in terms of possession, with United ahead on chances. Douglas was well wide with a header from a right-wing cross as United continued to waste real chances in front of goal.
The longer the game went on, the more you could feel the tension rise in the home stands and again all the noise was coming from those in navy and white.
Higginbotham forced a corner, but Alston's cross was too fiercely hit for Wallace to connect. Falkirk went 1- 0 ahead after Dale Fulton had replaced Blair Alston. With his first touch of the ball, he crossed from the left for top-scorer FARID EL ALAGUI to head low past Pernis for his fifteenth goal of the season. United were stung into retaliation and substitute JOHNNY RUSSELL drove low across McGovern from the edge of the six yard box and the ball nestled in the far corner of the net. The game suddenly came alive and for once the home support could be heard. Liam Dick came on for Kieran Duffie who seemed to have picked up a knock and Falkirk tried hard to regroup after the disappointment of losing the goal so soon after going ahead.
Russell headed over again and nearly all the United chances were coming from crosses into the box. There was a loud appeal for a penalty after El Alagui seemed to be sandwiched between Kenneth and Pernis, but referee Murray was having none of it. Falkirk were still going for a winner with four minutes left for play and the home fans were nervous. A glancing header by Weatherston from a Dick cross saw Pernis scrambling along his line to save. Rankin tried an over-ambitious long-range effort, but it was well over.
As the game went into three minutes of overtime, the tension mounted as both sides went for a killer goal. United forced a corner on the right after Dods cleared, but from the kick Douglas was booked for a foul on Kingsley. It was hard to remember that this was a team of teenagers against an SPL side. The game ended all square at the end of 90 minutes and extra time beckoned.
Score after 90 minutes: DUNDEE UNITED 1 FALKIRK 1
Extra Time
Douglas wasted a great chance for United when he was put through with only McGovern to beat but he shot weakly past from just inside the box. Daly was yellow-carded for a late challenge on Wallace, as both sides started to find gaps. El Alagui wasn't too far away with a low shot across the box with Weatherston lurking to pick up the scraps. United went 2-1 ahead in 96 minutes when Russell played JON DALY in and his low drive from the corner of the six yard box beat McGovern. Dale Fulton was booked for a foul on Douglas as the contest increased in intensity. Daly almost sealed the tie with a rasping 25 yard volley which struck the bar and went over. Ally Graham replaced Jay Fulton ,who had put in a power of work, and it became obvious that the winners of this battle would be the fitter side. McGovern was in superb form and denied United time and again.
Extra Time Half Time: DUNDEE UNITED 2 FALKIRK 1
Falkirk continued to battle hard and there was no shortage of effort. They had their moments and their performance was a credit to the coaching staff and management. The young boys were giving it their all and you couldn't ask for more in terms of energy and commitment. United knew they had been in a game and were being pushed all the way. Falkirk had a good spell with just over six minutes to go and threw everything at United. Pernis denied El Alagui when he saved a great volley from the edge of the box, but you feared that gaps would open up if United broke clear. They were being pushed back, but it was a huge physical effort from the youngsters and the Bairns supporters responded accordingly.
Falkirk drew level in 117 minutes when ALLY GRAHAM was played through after a long clearance by keeper McGovern and he shot home. There was absolute bedlam in the away support and there wasn't long to go. McGovern pulled off another fabulous save from Gunning as the minutes ticked away. It was a great effort and it ended 2-2 at the end of 120 minutes.
Final score Extra Time: DUNDEE UNITED 2 FALKIRK 2
The penalty shoot-out was nerve-shredding, and it went as follows:
1. Russell 1-0
2. Dale Fulton 1-1
3. Daly 2-1
4. El Alagui 2-2
5. Flood (miss) 2-2
6. Weatherston 3-2
7. Douglas 3-3
8. Higginbotham 4-3
9. Gunning 4-4
10. Murdoch 5-4
Falkirk were through. What a night. What an achievement.
DUNDEE UNITED: Pernis, Watson, Dixon, Gunning, Kenneth, Flood, Robertson (s.95 Armstrong), Rankin, Daly, Dalla Valle (s.56 Russell), Douglas.Subs. Allan, Dow, Banks (GK)
FALKIRK: McGovern, Duffie (s. 74 Dick), Kingsley, Dods, Wallace, Murdoch, Weatherston, J.Fulton (s.100 Graham), El Alagui, Higginbotham, Alston (s. 69 D.Fulton). Subs. R.Millar, Bowman (GK)
Referee: Calum Murray
Attendance: 4,188