IFK 1
Dundee Utd 0
UEFA Cup (Final 1st Leg)

Match Report

Part one of the most important match in the Club's history ended, on the whole, satisfactorily. The Swedes, who have such an awesome reputation in this competition never looked like gaining a convincing margin for the return leg and with just a little bit more luck we might have snatched the away goal that is so vital in the later stages of this competition.

There was early consternation in the united camp when Billy Thomson came to the rescue when Nilsson broke free. Thomson failed to get up from the challenge immediately and subsequently had five stitches in an ear wound. Both sides continued to search each other out but the home side made the breakthrough after 38 minutes. A corner on the left was headed down fiercely by Kjell Petterson and the ball shot high into the net. The uneven bounce was more to blame for Billy Thomson being beaten than the after-effects on his ear injury.

The Swedes opened brightly in the second half and only a magnificent one-handed save by Thomson kept out a shot from Petterson. After surviving a spell of hectic pressure it was United's turn to attack. Dave Bowman's pass found Ian Redford whose sweetly struck volley was somehow tipped over by Wernersson. John Clark then brought out another good save from the keeper from a free-kick.

A looping header by Petterson, well saved by Thomson, was the only major threat in the final quarter of an hour as play swung from end to end.