Dundee Utd 3
Ross County 0
Scottish Cup (Final)

Match Report

28000 Arabs watched on as United enjoyed Scottish Cup glory for the second time in their history, running out convincing 3-0 winners over Ross County at Hampden. Lee Wilkie, who that season had been forced to retire due to injury, led the team out in front of what was the clubs biggest ever following at the national stadium.

Both teams understandably appeared nervous for the first twenty minutes but as the game progressed, United began to dominate proceedings. The engine room of Prince Buaben and Morgaro Gomis proved instrumental as they gradually wrestled control of the midfield battle. United’s quality then began to tell as they exerted sustained pressure on the Staggies’ defence. Young player of the year David Goodwillie started to find space in behind the County defence and after being clattered by Gary Miller, the first yellow card of the day was handed out. Craig Conway and Danny Swanson provided some good deliveries into the box but found Scott Boyd and Scott Morrison standing firm at the heart of the opposition defence. United then came agonisingly close to opening the scoring ten minutes before half time with what would have been a candidate for goal of the season. A one-two between Goodwillie and Swanson led to the latter bearing down on goal after a run from inside his own half. Just as he was due to unleash a shot, the outstretched Alex Keddie made a superb tackle to prevent the young prodigy from scoring. John Daly then met a flighted Conway ball with a firm header and had it been either side of goalkeeper Michael McGovern surely would have broken the deadlock.

The second half began in similar fashion. United had their opponents pinned back in the final third without really testing keeper McGovern. This was all to change however in 60 minutes as the emotion within the Arab masses erupted in stunning style. A through ball from Gomis was cleared by McGovern who made the decision to come off his line to head the ball from the edge of the 18-yard box ahead of Daly. The clearance fell to David Goodwillie 25 yards out who precisely lobbed the ball back with the side of his foot first time over the head of McGovern and the helpless defenders, rising high into the net after one bounce. United were soon to bring further joy to tangerine end of Hampden when a headed flick-on from Goodwillie met the run of Craig Conway who sped through on goal before coolly placing it under the charging McGovern with his left foot in the 75th minute.
United turned the National Stadium into an Arabs' festival on 86 minutes when Craig Conway controlled a deft flick from Gomis in the 18-yard box and shot into the ground past McGovern to claim the Terrors’ third. At this moment even the most sceptical of United fans would have realised the trophy was coming back to Dundee. United saw out the rest of the game professionally and everyone with an Arab affiliation will long remember the incredible atmosphere when the referee blew the final whistle to confirm Dundee United Football Club’s second Scottish Cup and fifth trophy in their illustrious history, and that in their centenary year!

The celebrations lasted long into the night and all weekend as a parade in the City square followed by a further party at Tannadice on the Sunday rounded off a weekend that will live with Arabs forever.