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Dundee
United kept the damage to a bare minimum in the Ullevi stadium last
night. And that means they still have an outstanding chance of becoming
the first Scottish club to win the UEFA Cup when they play the second
leg at Tannadice on May 20th. On a bright evening when they were
below their best Jim McLean's men still restricted the Swedes to
just one goal. and even that could so easily have been avoided.
Dave
Narey and Billy Thomson - two of the clubs heroes in the run to
their first European final, both made errors. Narey made the mistake
of trying to apologise and shake hands after fouling Lennart Nilsson.
As this was going on, the quickly taken free kick brought IFK a
corner against an unsettled Tannadice defence. Michael Anderrsson
took the 38th minute corner and Thomson so safe with cross balls
throughout the competition, failed to come for it. Steffan Pettersson,
watched last night by assistant Manchester United boss Archie Knox,
headed the ball down and it took a cruel bounce over the keeper
into the roof of the net.
United
seemed uneasy on a poor playing surface and were possibly a little
apprehensive about their chances of joining Aberdeen, Celtic and
Rangers as Scottish winners of European trophies. But they constructed
a terrific spell in the second half, during which they might so
easily have grabbed the away goal manager Jim McLean wanted. Three
times in the space of a few minutes they threatened the Swedes.
Ian Redford forced Thomas Wernersson to make a magnificent save
from his superbly controlled volley following a Dave Bowman cross.
that won United a corner and from Eamonn Bannon's kick, John Clark,
substitute for the injured Paul Hegarty, should have done better
with a header. Clark almost did the trick shortly afterwards by
thundering in a 35 yard free kick which Wernersson pushed away for
another corner.
In
fairness to Thomson and Narey, who were involved in the loss of
the goal, they also did much to make amends. Thomson was hurt after
only five minutesminutes as United almost made a suicidal start.
Maurice Malpas, passed tit to play in the morning, played Lennart
Nilsson onside as he raced on to a pass from Tord Holmgren. Thomson
had to race out to make a brave save and was hurt as he clashed
with the Swedish forward. It looked serious, and McLean was summoned
on to the park as United debated whether he could continue. He did
carry on, but was clearly groggy for a long time after the incident.Narey
played his part in ensuring that United did not go further behind
by making countless fine tackles and timely interceptions.
Before the Thomson incident, United could have gone ahead. Redford
had a header saved after Sturrock and Bannon made the opening on
the right. Billy Kirkwood also had two first-half chances, but on
both occasions he failed to strike the ball cleanly. Thomson also
kept the Swedes at bay as they attempted to score what they might
have seen as the decisive second goal. Immediately after half-time
he threw himself to push away a shot by Pettersson. He touched aside
a shot by Nilsson in 72 minutes and a few minutes later deflected
another effort by the same player across the face of his goal. His
final save came again from Nilsson after Hyson had headed across
goal.
United
will have lain Ferguson available for the second leg after missing
last night through suspension. As United's band of 2000 fans stayed
on to cheer the team at the finish, it was clear they believe his
return will help them take the trophy.
Gotegurg:
Wernersson,
Carlsson, Hysen, Larsson, Fredriksson, Johansson, Tord, Holmgren,
Andersson, Tom, Holmgren, Pettersson, L. Nilsson Substitutes:Tobiasson,
Nordt, R. Nilsson, Zetturland, Rantanen
Dundee
United: B.
Thomson, Holt, Malpas, McInally, Hegarty, Narey, Kirkwood, Bowman,
Bannon, Sturrock, Redford Substitutes: Gallacher, Clark,
Beaumont, McLeod, S. Thomson
Ref:
S. Kirschen (E. Ger)
Attendance:
50,023
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