4 days ago
Dundee United go from dreamland to heartache as Conference League hopes end in tears
The Tangerines lost out on penalties after a dramatic night of action at Tannadice
Dundee United faced the heartbreak of crashing out of the Conference League on penalties.
Jim Goodwin 's side lost out on spot kicks with Amar Fatah hitting the post with United 's first and that was the only miss in all 10.
It was enough to see Rapid progress into a play-off with Hungarian side Gyor.
Ercan Kara, Claudy Mbuyi, Andrija Radulovic, Serge Raux-Yao and Benedegus Bolla were Rapid's spot kick heroes, with Will Ferry, Bert Esselink, Vicko Sevelj and Kristin Keresztes netting for United.
United had looked good when they had gone ahead on the night through a Max Watters double, but Rapid fought back and levelled this tie thanks to goals from Janis Antiste and sub Ercan Kara.
It was deja vu from the first result in Vienna last week, where Watters and Zac Sapsford had been the goal heroes.
There were no goals in extra time and so the game went to dreaded penalties.
United had produced one of their biggest European nights against Rapid back in 1984 but there was to be no repeat of Davie Dodd's famous winner.
Yes, it will be seen as an opportunity missed. But United were quite literally running on fumes.
They have a number of long-term injuries and there were six players who weren't available.
They have at least put some pride back into United's European record. Goodwin guided them to back-to-back opening wins over UNA Strassen.
Okay, the Luxembourg side wasn't the best opposition but United got the job done - winning their first game in Europe and progressing for the first time in 28 years.
He had then taken his side to the Allianz Stadium last week and masterminded a 2-2 draw away to Rapid, against all the odds. There was no progress but plenty of pride for United.
A pre-match Luca
The atmosphere at Tannadice didn't need any sparking and the confirmation of prodigal son Luca Stephenson's return before the game only added to what was already going to be some occasion.
The Liverpool midfielder had been United's player of the year last season and had been a main summer target. United made the most of it as they sent Stephenson and fellow new boy Julius Eskesen out for a pre-match bow in front of their adoring fans. Fellow midfielder Eskesen had come in from Haugesund the day before.
Turning Tannadice up to the Max
The big striker had missed United's best chance when he got free and got himself on the end of Ivan Dolcek's cross but he headed wide. It was one that he was hoping wasn't going back to bite him.
Rapid had a bit of possession but the United defence blocked and cut out everything with Panutche Camara and Craig Sibbald on a mission in front of them.
Watters then made amends and sparked a tangerine celebration in the 25th minute with the opener.
Zac Sapsford did brilliantly with a flick to send Will Ferry away and he crossed for Watters to get his head on it and head it back across the goal and into the net.
VAR - A Scottish friend!
We have spent most of the last couple of seasons complaining about VAR. It came to United's aid in the 41st minute. The impressive Zac Sapsford had made a Paul Sturrock style run as he darted between two defenders and raced into the box.
He then overhit his pass as he tried to square it for Watters. It had been clear that Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao had caught the Australian late as he played the pass. VAR agreed and invited Tasos Sidiropoulos to the screen. The Greek referee reviewed it and came back and pointed to the spot and booked the defender, as Tannadice erupted again.
Will Ferry had stood with the ball on the penalty spot as a decoy before the chaos calmed and he handed the responsibility to Watters.
The big striker upped up and smashed the ball low past Niklas Hedl's right hand and United knew it was a massive moment. He made it four in his last three games.
A Rapid response
Yevhenii Kucherenko kept Rapid out with some decent saves before he was finally beaten in the 63rd minute. Janis Antiste flicked on a near post corner into the net to give the Austrians hope. The United fans tried to lift their team immediately.
They had dropped deeper and their team was tiring. Goodwin made subs but it was Rapid who levelled through sub Ercan Kara.
Stirton's big chances
Sub Owen Stirton had a good chance to win it in the 100h minute but was denied by Niklas Hedl. Bert Esselink had another chance but neither side could find a winner and it went to penalties.
