Dundee go extra mile to shatter the Diamonds
CHAMPIONSHIP side Dundee survived a huge Scottish Cup scare against League One underdogs Airdrieonians before running riot in extra time at Dens Park yesterday.
The Diamonds stunned the home side when they took the lead through Calum Gallagher but Dundee drew level just before half-time thanks to a Paul McMullan strike.
Zak Rudden gave the Dark Blues the lead after the break before Callum Smith equalised for Airdrie.
The Diamonds then had Cammy Ballantyne sent off with Dundee running away with the game in extra time thanks to a Derick Osei double and further strikes from his fellow subs Fin Robertson and Luke McCowan.
Dundee boss Gary Bowyer admitted his players made life difficult for themselves.
He said: ‘The most important thing is getting through and that’s what we’ve done.
‘I’m not being patronising saying this but credit has to go to Airdrie because I thought they were terrific.
‘They started better than us, we were too slow and sloppy in our play.
‘Once we got in front, we had enough chances, but we let them back into it and it was a very poor goal.’
Airdrie player-manager Rhys McCabe admitted he was disappointed with Ballantyne’s sending off.
McCabe said: ‘I thought we were the better team in the second half.
‘The sending-off changed the game. To be honest, I am a wee bit disappointed in the ref.’
The visitors, backed by a vocal away support, had the first opportunity of the game in just the second minute with Justin Devenny hitting a fierce rising drive from 20 yards that Dundee keeper Ian Lawlor acrobatically palmed over for a corner.
After that early scare, the Dark Blues started to settle into the game, bossing possession and they had a chance of their own when McMullan picked out Jordan McGhee with a corner from the left but the defender’s header was straight at Airdrie keeper Dean Lyness, who easily held.
However, it was the Diamonds who broke the deadlock in the 21st minute when Gallagher rifled a low shot from the edge of the Dundee box that beat the diving Lawlor and nestled in the bottom corner of the net.
The Dark Blues looked to hit straight back with Rudden firing a long-range shot that Lyness had to tip over his bar.
Dundee had an even better chance shortly after when Cammy Kerr found space for himself inside the Airdrie box but his angled strike flew inches past Lyness’ far post.
The home side’s Max Anderson then had an opportunity to equalise but his shot from just inside the Airdrie box was straight at Lyness and the keeper made a comfortable save.
The Dark Blues squandered a great chance to draw level when the Diamonds failed to clear a McMullan corner with the ball falling for Anderson but he blasted wildly over when he should have at least hit the target.
However, Dundee made no mistake in the 45th minute.
Kerr dug out a cross from the left with Lyness failing to gather under pressure from Rudden and McMullan gleefully pounced to rifle the ball into the back of the net.
McMullan had an immediate chance to double his tally after the break when Josh Mulligan delivered a superb cross from the right but the winger sent his header straight at Lyness, who made a comfortable gather.
Airdrie hit straight back with Ballantyne bursting down the wing before hitting a low drive that flew just past Lawlor’s right-hand post.
However, it was Dundee who scored next in the 54th minute.
Lyness tried to clear outside his penalty area but miskicked with Rudden taking full advantage, keeping his nerve to curl the ball high into the net from the corner of the box.
McMullan should have made it 3-1 but he passed up a gilt-edged opportunity at the back post shooting straight at the Airdrie keeper.
However, the Diamonds equalised in the 66th minute when sub Gabriel McGill broke down the right before squaring the ball to Smith, who rifled a shot past the exposed Lawlor.
The keeper then had to go off after colliding with the post as he saved a Smith header.
Airdrie were reduced to 10 men deep in the 94th minute with Ballantyne receiving two yellow cards in quick succession for fouls with the game going to extra time.
Dundee scored in the 103rd minute when Alex Jakubiak had a shot saved by Lyness but Osei was on hand to rifle home the rebound.
Osei then doubled his tally in the second period of extra time, with a shot that was deflected into the back of the net before Robertson and McCowan put the icing on the cake with fine finishes.