Match Report

Wednesday, 26th October, 2011

by Paul Hughes

Dundee United 2 Falkirk 2

From PAUL HUGHES at Tannadice: Falkirk win 5-4 on pens after AET

FALKIRK stormed into the semi-finals as they dumped Dundee United in a nail-biting penalty shoot-out.

After beating Rangers in the last round, Steven Pressley's side booked a place at Hampden on a night of sheer drama at Tannadice.

Pressley's team of kids came back from the dead in extra-time before holding their nerve in the shoot-out.

Stewart Murdoch was the Bairns hero with the winning kick after United fall-guy Willo Flood was the only player to miss a kick.

It was an incredible evening for a squad filled with TEN teenagers. But, make no mistake about it, this Bairns team are all grown up.

Farid El Alagui's opener gave them real belief they could bag a spot in the semi-final.

Johnny Russell's sucker punch and an extra-time strike from Jon Daly came close to breaking their hearts, but 19-year-old Ally Graham rescued their dreams with just three minutes to go before that dramatic finale.

But the truth is, this game could have been finished by half-time.

United peppered the Bairns goal, shooting on sight to try and kill the game.

Lauri Dalla Valle looped a lovely effort that was heading for the top corner. Somehow keeper Michael McGovern twisted in mid-air to brilliantly tip over the bar. Just before the half hour United came within a coat of paint of taking the lead.

John Rankin fed Daly as he loitered in the box. His sweeping shot left McGovern stranded but the post came to his rescue.

Falkirk were losing possession too cheaply in midfield, inviting United to run all over the top of them.

Only another brilliant save from McGovern prevented Peter Houston's side taking the lead when he sprung to his right, parrying Scott Robertson's 20-yard drive.

There was no let up from United. Skipper Daly was the next to waste a golden opportunity, flashing a header wide from six yards.

After a half-time talking to, Falkirk came out bursting with energy.

Pressley couldn't have told his players to do anything other than get their finger out. If they let United continue with the same level of pressure a goal was inevitable.

With mistakes still littered throughout their play that was easier said than done. Robertson was getting closer and closer, trying his luck with a 50th-minute volley that zipped inches wide.

The First Division side weren't playing badly - they just weren't as sharp as United. There were only so many chances the home side could miss although after Daly headed over from six yards, you wondered if United would ever score.

Houston freshened things up with the introduction of Russell as he tried to snatch that elusive opener.

Yet, as the hour mark arrived, it was Falkirk who suddenly looked like they had found a second wind. In fact, they had started so sluggishly it seemed like they had only just found their first.

Sub Dale Fulton was only on the pitch a matter of minutes when he launched a deep cross into the box.

El Alagui had barely kicked his own backside all night, but he leapt above everyone else to head into the bottom corner.

The Bairns didn't get the chance to enjoy the lead for very long though as the Arabs hit back inside three minutes. Russell stormed into the box and lashed a brilliant finish beyond the grasp of McGovern.

Falkirk had taken the lead once. Now it was a question of whether they had the fight and energy to do it again.

As the seconds drained away, United's belief began to grow. Russell threatened again, this time from the right, but his drive was smothered by McGovern.

The Bairns thought they had snatched it with two minutes to go. Fulton whipped a cross in from the right after great work by Kallum Higginbotham and David Weatherston was practically celebrating only for Dusan Pernis to snatch his header out of mid-air.

The game moved into extra-time and it was the home side who took the lead.

Russell released Daly into the box and after so many near things, he made no mistake to roll the ball home.

Had his 50-yard pile-driver moments later not smacked off the crossbar, the game would have been over.

The drama wasn't over yet though and Graham somehow conjured up an equaliser with three minutes left.

It was a stunning finish to a great game - but United would have snatched a winner had McGovern not saved brilliantly from Gaving Gunning's volley.

Russell was the first to step up to the plate as the penalties kicked off, sending a cool finish into the bottom corner.

Fulton replied, with a cool finish into the top corner. Before Daly and El Alagui both scored.

Willo Flood blazed over the bar before Weatherston made it 3-2 with a cool finish and Barry Douglas levelled it, Kallum Higginbotham slotted home number four. Gunning then had to score and he smashed it home.

But young Stewart Murdoch kept his cool to become the hero as Falkirk stunned the Arabs.

DUNDEE UNITED: Pernis 7, Watson 6, Kenneth 7, Gunning 6, Flood 7, Rankin 7, Robertson 7 (Armstrong 5), Douglas 7, Daly 7, Dalla Valle 6 (Russell 6)

FALKIRK: McGovern 9, Duffie 7 (Dick 6), Dods 8, Wallace 7, Kingsley 7, Weatherston 8, J. Fulton 8 (Graham 8), Murdoch 8, Alston 7 (D.Fulton 7), Higginbotham 8, El Alagui 8.