Dundee United's European reputation soared sky high yet again in the magnificent Eindhoven stadium last night. Goals by Billy Kirkwood and Paul Hegarty in the first 29 minutes wealthy PSV to a soccer shambles. The message was as clear as the magnificent floodlights in the stadium. United who reached the quarter finals of the UEFA Cup last season, are off and running once again.

They gave the Dutch men - one of Europes richest sides, a soccer lesson, and in Dave Narey so solid and commanding, they have a player verging on true world class. He has clearly taken confidence from the World Cup but the whole United side showed they have matured at the highest level. PSV Became ragged, angry and verged on being brutal in the second half but United simply kept their cool and their control. That control had come even before United took the lead in 5 minutes.

Once again the vital goalscorer was Billy Kirkwood, who launched last seasons run with the opening goal in the 5-2 win in Monaco. Paul Sturrock made ground on the left and pushed the ball inside to Eamonn Bannon. His cross went to Kirkwood, who had made a superb run to the far post, and unchecked he breastedd down and scored with ease. From that moment all the noise in the stadium came from the 500 United fans confined to one corner.

Gough was penalised as he sent a header which doesburg saved magnificently and the keeper also had a fine stop from Davie Dodds. In 29 minutes Ralph Milne intelligently dummied a Bannon cutback and Paul Hegarty ws their to net a left foot shot. United did struggle for a short spell just before half-time when Hegarty made one superb tackle on Renne Van Der Kerkoff, and McAlpine made a fine save from Brandts. But after the interval United were back in command even though the Dutch threatened to turn it into a kicking match.

They had Wildschut and Jung Moo Huh booked for offences far more serious than the one which earned Paul Hegarty a first half caution for handball. United boss Jim McLean said after the match "I was proud of every one of my players. They did the job I had asked. This was one of our finest performances in Europe and we thoroughly deserved our win."

PSV Eindhoven: Doesburg, Van Aerie, Wildschut, Brandts, Stevens, Poortvliet, W Vder Kerkoff, Lokhoff, R Vder Kerkoff, Koolhof, Thoresen Substitutes: Segers, Landsbergen, Jung Moo Huh, Geels, Artenstam.

Dundee United: McAlpine, Phillip, Stark, Gough, Hegarty, Narey, Bannon, Milne, Kirkwood, Sturrock, Dodds Substitutes: Britton, Malpas, Payne, Holt, Graham.

Ref: A Zade (Russia)

Attendance: 15,000