A dramatic injury-time winner from Willie Falconer gave Dundee all three
points in a 2-1 win over Hibernian at Easter Road.
Paatelainen had put the home side ahead in the 26th minute but Falconer
equalised for the visitors just after the hour mark.
With the game seemingly heading for a draw the ex-Celtic and Aberdeen striker
latched onto a Steven Boyack cross to head home from six yards.
The victory was well deserved however as the Dundee team had the better of the
play in a game which swung from end to end and had its fair share of
excitement.
It was the visitors who carved out the first chance in the seventh minute.
After playing a short corner with Hugh Robertson, Boyack whipped a fierce
cross into the Hibs penalty area.
Falconer's flick looked net-bound until defender Tom Smith popped up on the
line to clear.
It was clear to see why 14 goals had been scored in the two previous meetings
between these teams as both sides went all out looking for the opener.
In the 17th minute Hibs came close when striker Dirk Lehmann volleyed a
tremendous 25-yard shot which rattled off the post with Dundee keeper Rab
Douglas well beaten.
Two minutes later Pat McGinlay went close, this time a 30-yard shot which went
narrowly past Douglas's right-hand post.
The home side's pressure eventually paid off in the 22nd minute. Smith picked
up Russell Latapy pass, swung a cross in from wide on the left and Paatelainen
was at the back post to scramble the ball in from two yards.
To their credit both sides had put the emphasis on attack and the play was
flowing from end to end.
The visitors were looking dangerous from set pieces and Steve Tweed rose high
to connect with a Boyack free-kick but his header soared over the cross-bar.
Two minutes from the break Latapy came close to doubling Hibs' lead with a
30-yard free kick but his effort just cleared the bar.
The home side started the second half on the offensive and had two early
attempts on goal, Latapy and Lehmann going close.
The visitors took some time to enter their stride but in the 50th minute James
Grady had an attempt from 20 yards only to see the ball fly high and wide.
After 62 minutes, a Boyack free-kick travelled 40 yards to the back post where
Falconer rose to head home past keeper Nick Colgan.
At the other end Kenny Miller came close for Hibs when his shot from 18 yards
beat Douglas but bounced off the top of the bar and out for a goal-kick.
It was the visitors who were looking the more likely to score again and
defender Craig Ireland blasted the ball over the bar from eight yards with the
goal at his mercy.
At the other end Martin Mackintosh had a great shot from 30 yards tipped over
the bar by Douglas as the home side struggled to get back into the game.
Just as the game seemed to be heading for a draw Dundee scored a dramatic late
winner.
It was a goal almost identical to the equaliser. Boyack's cross from the right
found Falconer at the back-post again and he made no mistake from around six
yards.
It was a shattering blow for the home side and after the final whistle went a
minute later they trooped off the pitch with the jeers of their fans ringing in
their ears.
Teams:
Hibernian: Colgan, Collins, Hughes, McIntosh, Smith, Lovell, Latapy, McGinlay, Miller, Paatelainen, Lehmann.
Subs Not Used: Gottskalksson, Murray, Hartley, Dennis, Brebner.
Booked: Hartley.
Goals: Paatelainen 22.
Dundee: Douglas, Smith, Tweed, Ireland, Lopez,
Sharp (Annand 46), Boyack, Rae, Robertson (McSkimming 88),Grady, Falconer.
Subs Not Used: Langfield, Wilkie, Bayne.
Booked: Ireland, Lopez, Boyack, McSkimming.
Goals: Falconer 62, 90.
Att: 10,208
Ref: Kenny Clark (Scotland).
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