Strikes from Alan Archibald and Stevie Crawford and a brace by James Grady
took Dundee United through to the semi-finals of the Tennent's Scottish Cup at
the expense of a woeful Aberdeen.
The Tangerines grabbed the initiative from the outset and badgered their
visitors, whose abject performance sent the 5,000-strong Red Army, some of whom
headed for the exits with 30 minutes left to play, back up the East Coast in
black mood.
The only thing they had to cheer all afternoon was a goal from Richie Byrne
which brought the scoreline to 2-1 in the first half, but Ian McCall's men soon
opened up a commanding lead with Crawford's decisive third.
Grady inspired his team-mates with a typically buzzing performance which never
let the Dons defence settle and, with centre-halves Alexander Diamond and
Russell Anderson having their worst performances of the season, this proved to
be their undoing.
United created the first real opportunity in the sixth minute, carving the
Dons wide open down the left flank in the type of scenario which set the tone.
Scotland made space to whip in a low cross towards the six-yard box and it
nearly found Grady, but Aberdeen, with a composure they would later lack,
managed to regroup quickly and avert the danger.
They continued to press forward and, in the 16th minute, Scotland Future squad
man Mark Wilson lit up the match with a Zidane-style stepover which tricked
Chris Clark and allowed him to send a dangerous cross into the area.
No-one could get on the end of it on this occasion, but the Tangerines took
the lead two minutes later from another delivery from the right. Barry Robson's
free-kick caused them unnecessary problems and found Crawford in space at the
back post.
His initial shot was blocked and as the ball bounced around the six-yard box,
Archibald nipped in to boot it into the bottom corner.
Markus Heikkinen's afternoon came to a premature end in the 27th minute when
injury forced him to come off for Richard Foster.
The Dons' afternoon took another bad turn two minutes later when Wilson
inspired United to their second goal of the afternoon. Once again he terrorised
Clark on the right flank and this time Scotland was able to meet his cross.
His header bounced off the bar, but it broke kindly for Grady, who stood alone
in the six-yard box and gladly accepted the opportunity.
The Dons initially refused to be cowed by their hosts and halved the deficit
within four minutes. Jamie Winter's free kick flew to the back post for Byrne,
who opened up his Dons account with a spectacular diving header which Bullock
was unable to stop.
However, their hopes of a comeback were destroyed in the 40th minute when
another defensive lapse allowed Crawford through on goal. He bolted on to
Scotland's simple through ball and, with defenders nowhere to be seen, calmly
passed a shot beyond Esson's left hand.
United went further ahead in the 47th minute with a spectacular Grady strike.
The diminutive forward brilliantly flicked Crawford's short pass into the air
before dispatching a volley with his left foot which whizzed beyond the startled
Esson en route to the top corner.
Aberdeen's frustrations were growing increasingly evident and their mood was
clearly shown on the hour mark when Diamond, who had been booked for a late
challenge on Robson, petulantly refused to shake the Dundee United man's hand as
he struggled to his feet.
Jimmy Calderwood tried to spice thing up by putting on John Stewart and Scott
Morrison for Clark and Byrne, but the game - and the chance of glory in this
season's cup - already belonged to United.
Teams:
Dundee Utd Bullock, Duff, Wilson, Ritchie, Archibald,
Scotland (Samuel 63), Brebner, Kerr (Cameron 87), Robson,
Crawford, Grady.
Subs Not Used: Colgan, Dodds, Kenneth.
Booked: Brebner.
Goals: Archibald 19, Grady 29, Crawford 41, Grady 47.
Aberdeen Esson, Hart, Anderson, Diamond, Byrne (Morrison 75),
McNaughton, Heikkinen (Foster 27), Winter, Clark (Stewart 51),
Mackie, Whelan.
Subs Not Used: Blanchard, McGuire.
Booked: Anderson, Diamond.
Goals: Byrne 33.
Att: 8,661
Ref: K Clark (Scotland).
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