The dream neared reality in the most magnificent 12 minutes in dundee United's history at Tannadice last night. Goals by Davie Dodds and Derek Stark in the second half have given the Taysiders a superb chance of reaching the final of the European Cup in Rome on May 30th. Roma had come to Scotland so confident of their place against liverpoll or Steau Bucharest in their own Olympic Stadium in the final. But the millionaires suddenly took on a ragged look as United produced a second half performance powering above anything they have achieved on their stairway to stardom.

Manager Jim McLean, who had been surprisingly optomistic all along at the prospect of matching endevour against the power of the lira, had clearly repeated his words at half-time when the scoreline was blank. United restarted by injecting a pace which the Italians could not handle. And the finest moments in McLean's 12 years at Tannadice were just around the corner. Top scorer Dodds. whose goal had taken them into the last four once again provided the vital spark in 48 minutes. Richard Gough drove down the right and his cross was missed by the defence. Eamonn Bannon beyond the far post hit an angled shot which struck a defender and broke to Paul Sturrock. The Scotland star touched it back and local hero Dodds hit it crisply into the net from eight yards.

United's second goal was more spectacular and unquestionably more important. Sturrock on the left switched the ball inside to Derek Stark. He hit a magnificent 30 yard shot which flashed past keeper Franco Tancredi. The goals came in front of the large contingent of Roma fans. It really did go quiet in there. their players were suddenly floundering. And almost unbeleivably, United could so easily have gone further down the road to ensuring two trips to Rome. Ralph Milne, his form re-emerging along with that of his team mates, had a fearsome shot deflected away for a corner. From Milne's flag kick, Paul Hegarty had a header frantically tipped over the bar by Tancredi.

The fact that roma had their best player Chierico, booked for a foul on Bannon, illustrated the extent of Roma's total eclipse. Milne then drove a free kick from the right to the near post and somehow Sturrock failed to get the simple touch that would have produced a goal. However their was some threat from the Italian's before half time. Chierico, who posed the major threat, floated a delicate cross in from the left and Italian star Francesco Graziani saw a header come back of the crossbar. Chierico did come close to stirring the Italians near the end but Hamish McAlpine save confidently.

Dundee United: McAlpine, Stark, Malpas Gough, Hegarty, Narey, Bannon, Milne, Kirkwood, Sturrock, Dodds Substitutes: Holt, Reilly, Taylor, Coyne, Gardiner

AS Roma: Tancredi, Oddi, Rigetti, Nela, Di Bartolomei Maldera, Conti, Cereno, Pruzzo, Chierico, Grazziani Substitutes: Malgioglio, Nappi, Strukely, Giannini, Vincenzi.

Ref: S . Kirschen (E. Germany)

Attendance: 20,543