European defeat 'fuel' for league season
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Leader Live
a few seconds ago
- Leader Live
Zac Sapsford earns Dundee United creditable draw in Conference League
The Australian created a first-half equaliser for Max Watters and scored a well-taken late leveller of his own as a 2-2 draw kept United well in the hunt for a place in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. United survived some late scares – including a disallowed goal in stoppage-time – to keep the tie level against Rapid, who reached the quarter-finals of the same tournament last season. United travelled to Austria reeling from the news that Ryan Strain and Kristijan Trapanovski had joined captain Ross Graham in suffering hamstring injuries that will keep them out for several months. And there was a further blow for Goodwin in the opening stages when on-loan Ferencvaros midfielder Isaac Pappoe was carried off on a stretcher following lengthy treatment for what looked like a knee injury. United were struggling to keep hold of the ball but appeared to be keeping their hosts at bay until they conceded from a simple right-wing cross in the 27th minute. Vicko Sevelj could not track Petter Dahl's run from the left side of the box and the United central defence failed to react as the Rapid wide man stroked the ball home from six yards. United were level six minutes later. Sapsford showed directness, skill and strength to get to and along the by-line and then composure to cut the ball back into the path of Watters, who adjusted his feet to net his second goal for the club. United goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko made a decent diving save to hold an angled drive before Matthias Seidl dragged a shot wide under pressure following a Rapid corner. The home skipper was soon on target though a minute before the break after United were again caught out from a delivery from the right flank. United could not clear and the ball broke kindly for Seidl to net from close range. Sapsford had an effort saved early in the second half but Kucherenko was also busy before the Australian scored a brilliant equaliser in the 75th minute. Sapsford had scored the only goal in United's second qualifying-round home leg against UNA Strassen of Luxembourg and the 22-year-old summer signing from Western Sydney Wanderers further endeared himself to the United fans. United won the ball from the Rapid goalkeeper's kick out, Owen Stirton kept it moving forward and Ivan Dolcek lobbed it into the path of Sapsford. There was plenty to do but the striker held off a defender and hooked the ball inside the far post from 16 yards. United survived some sustained pressure with the help of Will Ferry's block and Craig Sibbald's penalty-box tackle before Louis Schaub saw his headed goal chalked off following an offside earlier in the move.
Rhyl Journal
a few seconds ago
- Rhyl Journal
Zac Sapsford earns Dundee United creditable draw in Conference League
The Australian created a first-half equaliser for Max Watters and scored a well-taken late leveller of his own as a 2-2 draw kept United well in the hunt for a place in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. United survived some late scares – including a disallowed goal in stoppage-time – to keep the tie level against Rapid, who reached the quarter-finals of the same tournament last season. United travelled to Austria reeling from the news that Ryan Strain and Kristijan Trapanovski had joined captain Ross Graham in suffering hamstring injuries that will keep them out for several months. And there was a further blow for Goodwin in the opening stages when on-loan Ferencvaros midfielder Isaac Pappoe was carried off on a stretcher following lengthy treatment for what looked like a knee injury. United were struggling to keep hold of the ball but appeared to be keeping their hosts at bay until they conceded from a simple right-wing cross in the 27th minute. Vicko Sevelj could not track Petter Dahl's run from the left side of the box and the United central defence failed to react as the Rapid wide man stroked the ball home from six yards. United were level six minutes later. Sapsford showed directness, skill and strength to get to and along the by-line and then composure to cut the ball back into the path of Watters, who adjusted his feet to net his second goal for the club. United goalkeeper Yevhen Kucherenko made a decent diving save to hold an angled drive before Matthias Seidl dragged a shot wide under pressure following a Rapid corner. The home skipper was soon on target though a minute before the break after United were again caught out from a delivery from the right flank. United could not clear and the ball broke kindly for Seidl to net from close range. Sapsford had an effort saved early in the second half but Kucherenko was also busy before the Australian scored a brilliant equaliser in the 75th minute. Sapsford had scored the only goal in United's second qualifying-round home leg against UNA Strassen of Luxembourg and the 22-year-old summer signing from Western Sydney Wanderers further endeared himself to the United fans. United won the ball from the Rapid goalkeeper's kick out, Owen Stirton kept it moving forward and Ivan Dolcek lobbed it into the path of Sapsford. There was plenty to do but the striker held off a defender and hooked the ball inside the far post from 16 yards. United survived some sustained pressure with the help of Will Ferry's block and Craig Sibbald's penalty-box tackle before Louis Schaub saw his headed goal chalked off following an offside earlier in the move.
Scotsman
a few seconds ago
- Scotsman
Hibs hero hailed but warning fired after Partizan feat as one player left out of squad due to transfer
Boyle hits 100 goals and Gray can't praise him enough Sign up to our Football newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... David Gray hailed Hibs centurion Martin Boyle for the double strike that gave the Easter Road side one of their best European away results in club history. But he warned that even a 2-0 win over Partizan in Belgrade hasn't guaranteed Hibs a place in the UEFA Conference League play-offs. Gray, who watched captain Boyle bag his 100th and 101st goals for the club against ten-man Partizan, said: 'Delighted for Boyley. That's 101 goals for the football club - he's been sitting on 99 for a while. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'He fully deserves it because he's constantly delivered for the club for years now. He's really stepped up into that leadership role. He leads by example, and we saw that again tonight. David Gray was quick to hail the team's fans. | AP 'If you'd offered us 2-0 before the game we'd have taken it. It's a fantastic scoreline. But it's still only half-time in the tie. There's a lot of improvement to be done from us on the second half display. 'Full credit to Partizan going down to 10 men for as long as they did. They kept throwing everything at us and missed a few chances which might have made it a different night but all in all, a fantastic effort in a brilliant atmosphere. 'The players will learn a lot from that. The noise and intimidation is something the players should thrive on. The decisions had an effect on it; we're delighted but it's only half-time.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Gray's message to Hibs players Revealing his message to the players before the game, Gray said: 'Prepare as best you can, knowing it was going to be loud and intimidating. I thought the fans were incredible with the noise that they made, from 90 minutes before the game and right through, even when they went behind their fans were still singing. 'Added to that, the 350 Hibs supporters who came all the way over were doing exactly the same. It made it fantastic in a proper European tie.' On the red card and the penalty decision that gave Boyle his chance to score the second from the spot, Gray said: 'I've not seen them back but at the time, the second yellow you could say was soft - but I can understand why it was given. The Hibs players celebrate their win in Belgrade. | AP 'From that moment, it's good to get the goal straight away. But credit to Partizan, they really came after us after that. Some teams would just sit in and protect but they kept coming, which shows the tie is still alive.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Marvin Ekpiteta didn't travel with the squad, as he was back at home finalising a move to MK Dons, Gray saying: 'Marv's had a bit of interest from other clubs, and he's stayed behind to explore that. But at this moment he's still under contract." Scotland defender Grant Hanley took a place on the bench, the gaffer saying: 'He's going to be huge, on and off the pitch. I spoke a lot about character in the dressing room and bringing the right type in.
