Logan Chalmers was Dundee United’s super-sub hero scoring a late, late winner to take his side through to the quarter-finals of the Irn-Bru Cup against Linfield at Tannadice.
The Tangerines had earlier hit the woodwork but the Northern Irish outfit could understandably feel aggrieved that they did not take the tie to extra time, as overall they had had more of the play and chances than the home side.
However, United kept plugging away and were rewarded for their perseverance right at the death with the teenager producing a cool finish.
United boss Ray McKinnon had promised he would give the club’s kids the chance to shine in this match and he was true to his word with goalie Deniz Mehmet, Stewart Murdoch, Patrick N’Koyi and Sam Stanton the only regular first-team squad players in the starting XI.
And it was Stanton who had the first attempt of the game when he sent a shot from the edge of the Linfield box just wide of keeper Gareth Deane’s left-hand post.
The Belfast side then had an opportunity of their own, when Aaron Burns broke clear down the right with Mehmet having to save his angled shot with his feet.
Linfield had an even better chance in the 19th minute when Kirk Millar swung an inviting cross in from the right with Andrew Waterworth heading over when he should have at least hit the target.
The same player then sent a shot into the United side netting before Burns had an attempt deflected just wide of Mehmet’s post.
The keeper had to look lively once again in the 34th minute when he dived low to keep out a fizzing 18-yard effort from Robert Garrett.
However, the teams went in at the break with the scores level although Linfield would have been unhappy that they had nothing to show for their efforts in the first 45.
Ten minutes after the restart, Murdoch almost found the back of his own net when he stuck out a leg to stop a cross with Mehmet having to produce a smart save to spare his skipper’s blushes.
McKinnon made a change in the 66th minute bringing Chalmers on for Joe Piggott.
United had another let-off in the 70th minute when Linfield’s Andrew Mitchell swung a deep cross in from the right with Burns failing to convert at the back post.
Ten minutes later, Linfield sub Jordan Stewart outmuscled Murdoch down the right before hitting an angled drive that Mehmet did well to hold.
United then put together a superb sweeping move which ended with Graham Taylor having a clear sight of goal 12 yards out. His low shot beat Deane but cannoned back off the keeper’s post.
However, the Tangerines were not to be denied in the fourth minute of added-on time. Taylor hit a fierce cross from the right which Deane did well to parry but only to Chalmers who made no mistake volleying the ball into the back of the net from 12 yards to take his side through to the quarter-finals.
