Terrors out despite battling away draw

26 August 2010 21:24
Dundee United claimed a creditable 1-1 draw against AEK Athens on Thursday night but slipped out of Europe after a 2-1 aggregate loss.[LNB] After a week of farce which saw the venue for the match switched several times, the contest finally went ahead at the Karaiskaki Stadium - home of AEK's deadly rivals Olympiakos - but with only United supporters present because of security fears.[LNB]Any hopes United, who were trailing 1-0 from the first leg, had that the eerie atmosphere would unsettle AEK were quickly dashed as they picked up where they left off at Tannadice with an impressive passing game.[LNB]Debutant Papa Bouba Diop scored the opening goal and it looked as if United's hopes were over, but substitute Jon Daly came off the bench to net a goal which gave them hope of progressing. Despite their endeavour, though, it was not to be.[LNB]Houston pulled a major shock pre-match by dropping strikers Daly - his captain - and David Goodwillie. In came David Robertson and also Danny Cadamarteri, who was recently told he is available for free transfer.[LNB]AEK were without the services of their two stand-out players from the first leg, Nikos Liberopoulos and Traianos Dellas, who picked up injuries in training so were unable to play.[LNB]Former Fulham midfielder Diop was drafted in for his first game.[LNB]With United's 500 fans safely inside the ground after being bussed to the stadium amid tight security, they were intent on being vociferous.[LNB]Their good mood was almost shattered inside four minutes, though, when Leonardo broke through into the penalty area but goalkeeper Dusan Pernis saved with his feet.[LNB]Panagiotis Lagos was next to have a go for the Greeks but his effort from 25 yards sailed over the crossbar.[LNB]United were fortunate to stay on level terms after 10 minutes when Ignacio Scocco picked up a Rafik Djebbour ball inside the penalty area but somehow fired over from just six yards.[LNB]The Tangerines broke upfield on 20 minutes and looked like they were set to cause AEK problems when Scott Robertson fed Cadamarteri, but he strayed offside.[LNB]That moment proved pivotal as AEK swiftly took the lead through Diop. United defender Sean Dillon conceded a corner kick needlessly and they were punished as Sanel Jahic rose unmarked to flick the ball on for the Senegal man, who poked a shot in from four yards.[LNB]United came close to equalising on the half hour when Keith Watson picked out Craig Conway at the back post with a low cross from the right, but the linesman chalked his finish off for offside.[LNB]Houston was forced into a change just minutes into the second half when Cadamarteri pulled up injured and was replaced by Goodwillie.[LNB]In an attempt to inject new life into his side the United boss brought on Danny Swanson, back after a spell out injured, for David Robertson.[LNB]Houston then introduced Daly in place of Gomis in a bid to find the goal they needed to get back into the contest.[LNB]AEK could have scored on 73 minutes when Scocco got in behind the defence but again Pernis was able to turn the ball away.[LNB]And they should have done much better three minutes later when Ismael Blanco caught Kenneth out of position but he shot wide from the edge of the area.[LNB]United then gave themselves a lifeline on 78 minutes when Paul Dixon's long ball fell for Daly inside the box and he prodded it past goalkeeper Sebastian Saja at full stretch.[LNB]Swanson had a chance to send United through on away goals with a drive from the edge of the box but it flew just wide.

Source: Team_Talk