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The Courier
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
Max Watters: Dundee United had Rapid Vienna 'scared' – and will only get better
Dundee United 'carved open' Austrian giants Rapid Vienna during a memorable European night at Tannadice – and they will only get better. That's the view of United marksman Max Watters, who reckons the Tangerines' display against Rapid proved that the sky is the limit for Jim Goodwin's new look, evolving side. The Terrors roared into a two-goal lead on Thursday evening, with Watters planting a thundering header past Niklas Hedl before coolly converting a penalty. A continental glory night was on the cards. However, Rapid roared back in the second half to restore parity and – despite further opportunities for Will Ferry, Owen Stirton and Kai Fotheringham – prevailed on penalties. Yet, Watters is determined to remain positive, given a United side that has made 13 summer signings was already able to go toe-to-toe with the most successful club in Austria. 'They've spent a lot of money and have brought some good players in,' said Watters. 'So, it was brilliant for us to do what we did in the first half. 'Really, it was for the whole game. Even in extra time, when our younger players came on, they showed what they were about and popped the ball around Rapid. 'You could see their fans and players were scared because we were so good at times. We carved them open and created some good chances. So, it's really good to think about what we're going to be like when we get players back. 'We've obviously signed two more players the other day (Luca Stephenson and Julius Eskesen) so it's really exciting. 'Everyone can see the potential this club has.' There is no time for United to lick their wounds. The Tangerines travel to Kilmarnock on Sunday in the last-16 of the Premier Sports Cup and, with a decent cup run one of the club's priorities this term, it is another huge game for the tiring Terrors. 'How do we get over it? We go back to work,' Watters said matter-of-factly. 'We'll concentrate on Sunday's game and pick ourselves up – brush it off. Yes, it's tough, but that's just the way football can be. 'I'm gutted for the city, the staff, the players and everyone involved in the club. It was a disappointing day in the end – but you've got to look at the positives of how well we've done against a really good team over two legs.' And with four goals in his last three games, Watters can afford to head to Ayrshire in buoyant mood. He added: 'It's a really good start for me, personally. I've got a few goals to my name, and the priority is to push on and get some more. I want to keep helping the team and, hopefully, get an important win on Sunday.'
The Courier
4 days ago
- Sport
- The Courier
4 Dundee United talking points: Why Rapid thriller proves new-look Tangerines CAN mount Euro charge
Rapid Vienna prevailed on penalties as Dundee United exited Europe in galling fashion on an electric night at Tannadice. Goals from Janis Aniste and Ercan Kara cancelled out Max Watters' first-half double and, despite the Terrors having opportunities to progress in extra-time, the tie was ultimately settled by spot-kicks. Amar Fatah was the only man to miss his penalty as the Austrian giants proved faultless from 12 yards. Gutted United, given a raucous reception when they trudged back down the tunnel, must dust themselves down ahead of Sunday's trip to Kilmarnock. Courier Sport was at Tannadice to analyse the action. When the dust settles and open wounds begin to heal, United fans should be left with a feeling of excitement for the season ahead. Over 210 minutes of football, they went toe-for-toe and punch-for-punch with the 32-time champions of Austria and for long periods on Thursday, looked destined to leave them on the canvas. According to their market value on Transfermarkt – an imperfect measurement but a useful reference point nonetheless – Rapid's squad is worth around £40 million compared to United's £8.5 million. Moreover, fellow non-Old Firm European qualifiers Aberdeen and Hibs (both around £16 million) are dwarfed by the spending power of Rapid. Summer signing Petter Dahl, tipped to make the Austrians a fortune in the future, barely got a kick at Tannadice, £10 million-rated Mamadou Sangaré was outplayed by cardio monster Panutche Camara and the magnificent Craig Sibbald. Zac Sapsford and Max Watters tormented Serge-Phillipe Raux-Yao and Nenad Cvetkovic – the backbone of a solid Rapid defence last term. United's back three was outstanding until fatigue kicked in and the Terrors were unable to halt the barrage of crosses coming from wide areas. Jim Goodwin eventually addressed that going into extra-time by switching to a 4-5-1 and getting an additional body on the flanks. But the takeaway from a breathless, unforgettable couple of European nights should be that on this form, there is nothing to fear in the Scottish Premiership, especially when key men get back to full fitness. 'It's not about pointing the finger at anybody. We don't have a blame culture within our group.' Goodwin was answering a question from one reporter regarding Owen Stirton's gilt-edged opportunity in extra-time. Latching onto an awful back-pass by Cvetkovic, he hared through on goal and attempted to dink Niklas Hedl. The keeper stood tall and slapped the effort to safety. The Tannadice gaffer could just as easily have been talking about Fatah, who was the sole spot-kick sinner in an otherwise perfect shootout, striking the inside of the post. And on both counts, Goodwin is correct to shield his players from the slings and arrows of criticism; not that there are many of those coming from an understanding, proud fanbase. Stirton's miss certainly wasn't egregious. Yes, he could have sought to pick a corner and attempt a more orthodox, playing-the-percentages finish – but Hedl closed the angles well. The Rapid keeper – an Austria international with more than 100 appearances for the most successful club in the country under his belt – then held his nerve to stand tall when many keepers would have hit the deck and succumbed to the chip. The excellent Hedl simply won the personal battle. It happens. Stirton will bounce back and ripple the net plenty of times for Dundee United. Similarly, Fatah showed enough during his time on the pitch – pace, physicality and dribbling ability – to make it clear he'll be a big player for United. Indeed, he stepped up with the composure and poise of a man who was certain he would slot his effort beyond Hedl. However, he pulled his kick. Bert Esselink's penalty kissed the underside of the bar and bounced over the line. Fatah's struck the inside of the post and bounced out. A matter of centimetres in difference. Sometimes cruel, miniscule margins settle the biggest games. All the above is not to say there is no room for improvement. Evidently there is. A common theme in the opening weeks of the campaign is a weakness from set-pieces. Given Goodwin's side has a liberal sprinkling of colossal units, that really should not be the case. The amount of first contacts that opposition players have made at the near post from corner-kicks has been alarming. It cost United a point against Hearts, with Stuart Findlay scoring in the 94th minute. It allowed Rapid to halve arrears with 25 minutes left to play, just as they were beginning to look like a side running out of ideas. Defining moments; United undone in simplistic fashion. Perhaps one saving grace is that the Terrors will now have the concerted time on the training pitch to address the issue – it really should just be a matter of repetition, repetition, repetition – and sort this uncharacteristic porous streak from dead balls. United fans could be forgiven for feeling a European on Sunday. They shouldn't. The Premier Sports Cup trip to Kilmarnock is a huge game. Of course, it is lacking the glamour and financial stakes of the clash with Rapid – but the Terrors are just two games away from Hampden and, as a club, piecing together a cup run is a major priority. Their last trip to the national stadium for a major semi-final came in 2020/21 – so not even in front of fans – which is too long for a club like United. Qualifying for the league phase of the Conference League was a lofty aim, but never an expectation. Making a better fist of their only realistic opportunities at silverware is an expectation. And how welcome the sight of Julius Eskesen and Luca Stephenson in the matchday squad will be. Amid a swathe of injuries; fresh faces, quality and energy. Just what the overworked doctor ordered.
Scottish Sun
5 days ago
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Dundee United 2 Rapid Vienna 2 (Agg: 4-4, pens 4-5) – agonising night for Jim Goodwin's men as side drop two-goal lead
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) FOR a moment it looked like former removal man Max Watters was about to send Rapid packing. Then it was goodnight Vienna for Dundee United. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Rapid Vienna players celebrate Credit: Getty 3 Jim Goodwin couldn't bare watching the penalty shootout Credit: Kenny Ramsay 3 Goodwin with his players at full-time Credit: PA This was as memorable and stirring a Euro night as Tannadice has seen in decades. Sadly for Jim Goodwin's men it ended in agonising elimination on penalties. Forty-one years on from Davie Dodds dumping the Austrians out of the European Cup, Watters looked set to pen his name into Tannadice folklore too as his double saw the Terrors lead at the break. But two Rapid goals in the space of 13 minutes levelled the tie on the night and on aggregate. Then after neither side was able to score in extra-time, Amar Fatah was the shootout sinner as his missed first kick saw United crash out. Make no mistake though. Despite their KO this was a titanic performance from a Terrors team ravaged by injury. Watters kept his cool to finish, United's midfield worked like trojans, their defenders timed their challenges impeccably and goalie Yevhenii Kucherenko pulled off some incredible saves. All the time roared on by a packed out Tannadice crowd. It just wasn't quite good enough to edge them through to a play-off clash with ETO Gyor. With a sell-out of more than 14,000 packed inside Tannadice, this felt like a throwback as the atmosphere crackled before kick-off. Jim Goodwin on playing his one and only Celtic game on Henrik Larsson's big day and cherished memories of tragic friend Liam Miller United carried that out onto the pitch and started brightly. They fizzed the ball around and moved and pressed like their lives depended on it. Rapid beat Austrian champs Sturm Graz on the weekend and skipper Matthias Seidl stoked things up pre-match by claiming they would show they were better than the Terrors this time. United had to be fully focused and not make any slip-ups to stand a chance of making it through. But Bert Esselink nodded a Rapid ball forwards straight to Janis Antiste and needed Yevhenii Kucherenko to bail him out with a save. Zac Sapsford has become a fans' favourite for his goals and assists in Europe and was finding joy when he drifted out into the left channel. When he picked out Ivan Dolcek the Croatian could only spoon wide. Dolcek then turned creator and dug out a cross that Watters should have buried but nodded over. In between times Rapid threatened when Antiste spun and rifled in a shot which Kucherenko was relieved to see hit the side netting. How they rated Kucherenko 9, Esselink 8, Iovu 7 (Fotheringham, 90 3), Keresztes 8, Sevelj 8, Camara 8 (Constable, 115 1), Sibbald 8, Ferry 8, Dolcek 7 (Thomson, 71 4), Sapsford 6 (Fatah, 46 5), Watters 8 (Stirton, 71 4). French frontman Antiste looked a danger and when he was played in again it needed a superbly timed tackle from Krisztian Keresztes to halt him. Down on the touchline United boss Goodwin exuded calm. Out on the pitch his team had the same sort of air about them. Then, on 26 minutes, Watters stayed cool to put them in front. What a great move it was too. Ferry did well to pick him out with a cross from the left but Watters had already done the hard work by peeling away from his marker so he was all alone to head home. Watters was too ill to face Hearts on the weekend but Rapid were feeling sick all of a sudden as the on-loan Barnsley striker made it three goals in as many games. Rapid responded with Mamadou Sangare's shot being beaten away by Kucherenko but Sapsford drilled wide at the other end. The Australian created an even better opening five minutes before the break as he bustled past Rapid defenders. But as things opened up he tried to square to Watters instead of unleashing a shot himself. His touch was too heavy and for a moment United fans thought the chance had gone. But Sapsford was caught by Serge-Philippe Raux-Yao as he'd played his pass and VAR Angelos Evangelou ordered ref Tasos Sidiropoulos to have another look. It was a penalty all day long and Watters produced the perfect kick as he drilled low into the left corner. What was said Rapid boss Peter Stoger said: 'We expected a difficult opponent. At half-time we spoke about creating one against one situations and it was much better. 'In this stadium with this crowd we showed talent and character and I'm very happy. 'It was a close result and a close game. In these two games maybe we had more chances but they played two great games." United paraded Luca Stephenson before the game after he completed a season-long loan return from Liverpool yesterday. Stephenson said: 'I felt I came on as a player here last year and when Liverpool wanted to send me out on loan again this was the only place I wanted to come.' United's fans must have been struggling to believe what they'd seen in that opening 45. Sapsford had been caught earlier in the first half too and couldn't return so Amar Fatah was sent on. United continued to spray the ball about with confidence and Ferry scooped over from Dolcek's cross but they missed the option of an out-ball to Sapsford. A slick Rapid move saw Petter Dahl crash in a vicious strike which Kucherenko again did well to save. But on 64 minutes they pulled one back as Antiste nodded home Bendeguz Bolla's corner. Rapid boss Peter Stoger had lost at Tynecastle as a player with Austria Vienna and at Parkhead as Ferencvaros manager and he was booked for protesting a decision. Sub Ercan Kara thought he was about to level but Kucherenko produced another unbelievable stop but with 13 minutes left he did beat the goalie as he flicked on Nikolaus Wurmbrand's cross. Fatah came close to scoring soon after when his shot deflected wide as extra-time beckoned. Sub Owen Stirton was played in for a great chance to score but was denied by Niklas Hedl's save and the game went to kicks. Fatah's first kick smashed off the post and despite Ferry, Esselink, Vicko Sevelj and Keresztes all slotting home, all of Rapid's takers netted to send them through. Keep up to date with ALL the latest news and transfers at the Scottish Sun football page
Scotsman
11-08-2025
- Sport
- Scotsman
Hearts and Celtic stars earn stats experts team of the week spots
There was late drama at Tannadice on Sunday as Hearts made it consecutive wins in the opening week of the Premiership with last-gasp victory against Dundee United. It was the hosts that held the upper hand when the half-time whistle was blown as an Ivan Dolcek brace helped the Terrors bounce back from a Lawrence Shankland penalty just before the 20-minute mark. Hearts new boy Stuart Findlay restored parity when he found the net on the hour-mark and the former Newcastle United and Kilmarnock defender doubled his tally and earned all three points for his side when he netted the winning goal in the fourth minute of injury-time. Two Hearts players were handed a place in the WhoScored Premiership Team of the Week after they produced impressive performances in the most dramatic of wins. Your next Hearts read: Adam Forrester returns to Hearts - final decision to be made on St Johnstone loan Related topics: CelticPremiership
Glasgow Times
10-08-2025
- Sport
- Glasgow Times
Stuart Findlay's brace helps Hearts hit back to beat Dundee United
Hearts skipper Lawrence Shankland opened the scoring with a penalty against his former side, with the hosts bouncing back strongly before the break thanks to Ivan Dolcek's double. Findlay equalised just before the hour mark and popped up in stoppage time to grab a dramatic winner. The result leaves the Jam Tarts top of the William Hill Premiership after two games. United made three changes to the starting line-up that secured a notable draw against Rapid Vienna in Austria on Thursday night, with Owen Stirton, Miller Thomson and Dolcek coming in for Will Ferry, Max Watters and Isaac Pappoe. Hearts made just one change to the team that beat Aberdeen 2-0 on Monday night at Tynecastle, with Alan Forrest replacing Christian Borchgrevink. The visitors made a bright start and were first to threaten in the eighth minute when Frankie Kent got his head to a Harry Milne corner but the defender could not trouble United goalkeeper Yevhenii Kucherenko as the ball sailed over the crossbar. The Terrors made a quickfire response with Vicko Sevelj hitting a blistering 30-yard drive which keeper Zander Clark dived to his right to push away for a corner. Hearts had another gilt-edged opportunity when Forrest whipped in a superb cross from the right but Claudio Braga's glancing header flew straight into Kucherenko's grateful grasp. However, the visitors broke the deadlock in the 19th minute. United defender Iurie Iovu grappled Findlay to the ground inside the home box and referee David Dickinson pointed to the spot. Hearts skipper Shankland stepped up and calmly struck his penalty into the bottom corner, sending Kucherenko the wrong way. That lead only lasted three minutes. United were awarded a free-kick 25 yards out following a foul on Stirton and Dolcek's effort flew high into the back of the net despite the best efforts of Clark, who got a hand to the ball. Dundee United then took the lead in the 42nd minute. Panutche Camara threaded a great ball through to Dolcek, with the Croatian hitting a shot that Clark could not keep out at his near post. Hearts pinned the Terrors back at the start of the second half and equalised in the 58th minute. Milne sent an inswinging corner from the left towards Findlay who powered a header high past Kucherenko. And in the fourth minute of stoppage time, Findlay pounced to seal the win for his side with another fine diving header from an Alex Kyziridis corner.
