SFA Youth Cup: Dundee Utd U19s 4-2 Livingston U19s
DUNDEE UNITED progressed to the semi-finals of the Scottish Youth Cup by virtue of a thrilling win over Livingston, writes Michael Donnelly at Tannadice.Despite trailing after the first-half, the Terrors bossed their way to victory after the interval. The visitors Livingston threatened throughout, but failed to utilise opportunities efficiently, particularly in the first 45 minutes.
In a game which ebbed and flowed, no instance illustrated this better than a Livingston attack drawing a save from the home goalkeeper, immediately after United had a penalty shout waved away at the other end.
Livingston persisted to play the ball forward through the middle and from the wing, and it was a combination of these elements which resulted in the opener on 43 minutes. An initial play through to the forwards was cleared before a fine pass from wide found Dean Cummings with time and space inside the box, to finish in the corner of the net.
Livingston were made to wait for the opposition as they themselves came out early for the second half, but the delay appeared to benefit United the greatest.
Just 30 seconds after the restart the Terrors were unlucky to see a stabbed shot from a fine cross rise just over the crossbar. Ryan Ferguson's equaliser replicated the style of the opening goal of the game almost identically, as he finished from inside the box.
The home team then orchestrated a frenzied period of offensive play as they took the lead by way of a Thomson shot from distance. They added a third through Ferguson which the crouching keeper could not hold as the ball squirmed through his legs and into the net.
Just under five minutes later they made it four a shot from a barnstorming run behind the Livi defence which lead to Thomson grabbing his brace.
Undeterred, Livi continued to push up the field, though attacks were becoming sparse in the face of the United barrage. A distance shot of his own from Ross Docherty gave the travelling support some hope, but it was not to be as the game petered out somewhat.
An entertaining game which Livi will be disappointed to have lost given the wealth of attacking moves they instigated. However, defensive steel and bold forward play in the second half was the key to Dundee United clinching a last-four berth.
Livingston were made to wait for the opposition as they themselves came out early for the second half, but the delay appeared to benefit United the greatest.
Just 30 seconds after the restart the Terrors were unlucky to see a stabbed shot from a fine cross rise just over the crossbar. Ryan Ferguson's equaliser replicated the style of the opening goal of the game almost identically, as he finished from inside the box.
The home team then orchestrated a frenzied period of offensive play as they took the lead by way of a Thomson shot from distance. They added a third through Ferguson which the crouching keeper could not hold as the ball squirmed through his legs and into the net.
Just under five minutes later they made it four a shot from a barnstorming run behind the Livi defence which lead to Thomson grabbing his brace.Undeterred, Livi continued to push up the field, though attacks were becoming sparse in the face of the United barrage. A distance shot of his own from Ross Docherty gave the travelling support some hope, but it was not to be as the game petered out somewhat.
An entertaining game which Livi will be disappointed to have lost given the wealth of attacking moves they instigated. However, defensive steel and bold forward play in the second half was the key to Dundee United clinching a last-four berth.
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