Dundee defeated Kilmarnock in a 3-2 thriller at the Scot Foam Stadium this afternoon. A Dee win looked a forlorn hope when they fell 2-0 behind late in the first half after Killie goals from Bruce Anderson and Matty Kennedy. Seb Palmer-Houlden pulled a vital goal back before half time and Jordan McGhee came off the bench after his long spell out with injury to bring the match level early in the second half. Neither team was prepared to settle for a draw but it was Dundee who created the better chances. Ziyad Larkeche finally scored the winner in the final minute of added time to trigger scenes in the stands. After recent disappointments the supporters loved celebrating this important win!
The Dark Blues made two changes to the team that played Celtic on Wednesay. Seb Palmer-Houlden and Seun Adewumi came in for Josh Mulligan and Fin Robertson, who were named as substitutes. It was Adewumi’s first start for the Dee.
The first 20 minutes were interesting without being thrilling. Dundee moved the ball around neatly with some pleasing passing moves in attack that promised something without ever quite delivering. The Dark Blues had the edge, but Kilmarnock were also moving and passing well.
Most of the penalty box action was at the Killie end, but it was the visitors who opened the scoring after 24 minutes thanks to an awful goalkeeping error. Jon McCracken came out to take a simple cross that was dropping into his chest. He fumbled and Bruce ANDERSON was left with an open goal.
Dundee kept their heads and remained the better side. Play was held up for five minutes while Kilmarnock central defender was treated for a serious injury before being stretchered off.
The Dark Blues kept pushing for an equaliser. Seun Adewumi went close from Simon Murray’s cut-back, but his shot flashed narrowly wide and into the side netting.
As the supporters were hoping that the Dee were about to get back on level terms Dundee conceded a second goal. If it wasn’t a catastrophic mistake it was certainly sub-standard defending. Danny Armstrong worked his way clear on the right and his cross was headed home at the near post by Matty ARMSTRONG.
The Dark Blues desperately needed a goal befoe half time and happily the players delivered. Adewumi delivered a tempting cross to the near post and Seb PALMER-HOULDEN got ahead of his marker to head past Robbie McCrorie.
Dundee made two changes at half time. Jordan McGhee and Josh Mulligan replaced Ethan Ingram amd Lyall Cameron.
Both substitutes were quickly involved in the action. Eleven minutes after the restart the Dark Blues were level. Ziyad Larkeche took a short corner to Adewumi whose cross was headed goalwards by Palmer-Houlden for Jordan McGHEE to score with a header from six yards.
Seun Adewumi had a fine 60 minutes but he pulled up while attacking and, after treatment, was replaced by Scott Tiffoney.
Killie had their best spell of the match following the Dee equaliser. They had more of the ball and did more attacking but the Dee defence responded well. The only near thing was a header from a free kick by Joe Wright that flew past the post.
Dundee might have had less possession in the final half hour but they created far more danger than Killie when they did get on the ball. Tiffoney ran onto a header by Palmer-Houlden and his angled shot sailed agonisingly the wrong side of the post.
Tiffoney looked sure to have an open goal when Palmer-Houlden sent a hard and low cross into the goalmouth, but a desperate blocking clearance denied him. Dundee came straight back at Killie and McCrorie pulled off a terrific save to keep out Larkeche’s fierce shot.
Both teams wanted the win and Kilmarnock kept attacking, without any great conviction or threat, while Dundee always looked dangerous on the break.
The fourth official’s board showed four minutes of injury time during which Killie won their only corner of the game. But it was the Dark Blues who broke through, deep into the final minute of added time.
Josh Mulligan surprised the Kilmarnock defence with his strength and pace to break clear on the left. As he ran along the byline Ziyad LARKECHE sprinted from defence to take Mulligan’s cut-back and sweep home the winner.
Tonto time round three sides of the stadium! The Dark Blue support have had to endure some disappointments and late sickeners this season, and how they enjoyed this late, late winner for the Dee.
That was that, and what an exciting finish we enjoyed to a remarkable and thrilling game. This was such an important win after the Dee’s poor run of form and the three points owed everything to strength of character by the young Dark Blue team.
The players’ confidence might have collapsed after playing well but finding themselves 2-0 down. The team dug deep and deserved the win. The defence was much sounder after half time, and Dundee were always dangerous coming forward, running hard, moving and passing well, and creating chances. Jon McCracken might have made a bad mistake for the opening goal, but he didn’t let it affect him and was sound for the rest of the game.
There were a few strong candidates for man of the match, but nobody could have argued with announcement that Ziyad Larkeche would take the award. If there had been any doubt about that it vanished when the winner hit the back of the net. His determination to get forward and force a winning goal was crucial. He might easily have sat back in defence and settled for a draw at the end of a match in which he had covered a huge distance up and down the left.
Dundee might have done it the hard way today, but they deserved all three points, and how the support enjoyed the climax. The cheering and applause after the winning goal didn’t die down till the players finally left the park at the end after celebrating with the fans.
Dundee FC 3-4-3
McCracken
Astley, Clark Robertson (Koumetio 84), Portales
Ingram (McGhee at half time), Cameron (Mulligan at half time), Sylla, Larkeche
Palmer-Houlden, Murray (c), Adewumi (Tiffoney 64)
Unused substitutes: Sharp (gk), Main, Fin Robertson, Braybrooke, Vetro.
Goals: Palmer-Houlden (41), McGhee (56), Larkeche (90+4).
Booked: Adewumi (foul on Wright), Larkeche (foul on Kennedy).
Kilmarnock 4-4-2
McRorie
Mayo, Findlay (Wright 33), Deas, Ndaba
Armstrong (Armstrong 52), Lyons, Watson (McKenzie 74), Kennedy
Vassell (c), Anderson (Cameron 74)
Unused subs: O’Hara (gk), Burroughs, Wright, McKenzie, Mackay-Steven, Murray, Cameron, Donnelly, Wales.
Goals: Anderson (24), Kennedy (40).
Booked: Ndaba (foul on Murray).
Referee: Dan McFarlane. Assistants: David Roome, Sean Carr. VAR: John Beaton. Assistant VAR: Gary Hilland.
Attendance: 5,014.
Report: James Christie.
