Inverness CT 1-1 Dundee Utd: Match Report

23 July 2016 16:34

Missed penalties prove costly for Inverness

Missed penalties from Greg Tansey and Ross Draper saw Dundee United steal a bonus point after a 1-1 draw with Inverness in the Betfred Cup.

Scottish Championship side United netted all of their spot-kicks as Draper and Tansey saw efforts saved by goalkeeper Cammy Bell.

The result was harsh on Caley Thistle, who had taken the lead in the first half through Scott Boden.

Stewart Murdoch levelled superbly at the start of the second half before penalties earned the visitors an extra point.

United stay top of the group on seven points and Inverness in third, with a key game against Dunfermline to come on Tuesday.

Clear-cut chances were at a premium in this early-season encounter but Inverness, who handed a first start to young goalkeeper Cammy Mackay, were in control of the tempo of the game.

Liam Polworth volleyed a Billy King centre over the crossbar in the best of the early chances while a Paul Dixon cross, which flashed across the face of goal, was the closest United came to testing 20-year-old Mackay.

The visiting Arabs saw several shots blocked, with Kevin McNaughton and Tansey both preventing goal-bound shots from testing Mackay.

Caley Thistle's dominance in possession was rewarded in the 35th minute when Boden showed his penalty-box credentials, stealing in to head Gary Warren's flick past Bell.

Polworth dragged another shot wide before the break as a more expansive Inverness side than the one seen under John Hughes seemed more willing to take attacking risks.

Former Ross County man Murdoch marked his return to the Highlands with a spectacular goal 32 seconds into the second half, expertly dispatching Simon Murray's pull-back.

Boden blew a chance to double his tally on the hour, blazing wide from Polworth's pass, while a late free-kick from Tansey brought a smart stop out of Bell.

Carl Tremarco and Tope Obadeyi scored their penalties but misses from Tansey and Draper, coupled with goals from Coll Donaldson and Murdoch, gave Murray the chance to seal a 4-1 spot-kick win, which he duly supplied.


Source: PA