Aberdeen 3 - 1 Dundee United

Aberdeen took the game to United right from the start, and twice in the opening five minutes the visitors' defence was forced to clear off the line. Hicham Zerouali, in for his first start in place of Robbie Winters, was causing havoc in the United rearguard, and only a poor finish denied the Moroccan international from breaking his duck after he carved his way through.

United however took the lead in the 25th minute, totally against the run of play when a mishit Pascual shot fell straight to David Hannah, who made no mistake from close range.

Unlike so often in the past, Aberdeen refused to lat this setback get them down and in stoppage time, were rewarded with a deserved leveller. Andy Dow, played a ball to Eoin Jess from the right back position and then made a brilliant run to accept the return on the left wing. Dow's cross was met by the head of ZEROUALI, who headed down past the helpless Combe.

H.T. Aberdeen 1 United 1

Early in the second half, United were given an opportunity to restore their advantage when Cato Guntveit was harshly adjudged to have fouled Hannah inside the box. The former Celt took the resultant spot kick himself and Jim Leighton launched himself to his left to push the ball on to the post, Russell Anderson completing the clearance.

In the 69th minute, the Dons replaced the limping Guntveit with Rachid Belabed and almost immediately, Zerouali sent a shot in which was handled by David Partridge.

Andy Dow took the penalty but his poor effort was pushed behind by Combe. United failed to clear the resultant corner and the ball broke to BELABED who fired home a wicked shot from 25 yards out.

The Dons were never in any real trouble after that and the icing on the cake came in the final minute when referee MacDonald awarded penalty number three, this time for a foul by Pascual on Beleabed. Norwegian striker Arild STAVRUM showed how a penalty should be taken, sending Combe the wrong way and sending the vast majority of the 16,686 crowd home in ecstacy.

F.T. Aberdeen 3 United 1