DUNDEE 3 INVERNESS CALEDONIAN THISTLE 2
Dunee - Bulvitis (48og), Harkins (52), Forsyth 83
Inverness – Rooney (20), Bulvitis (33)
Dundee took the honours in another thrilling ALBA Challenge Cup Final with a three goal second half comeback that turned them from zeroes to heroes in the eyes of the Dens Park fans.
Ironically, the Dark Blues match-winner Craig Forsyth is the son of another Dundee hero with his dad Stewart in the Dens Park side’s line-up when the inaugural Challenge Cup competition was held in 1990 when Dundee defeated Ayr United 3-2.
Victorious manager Jocky Scott was too polite to say what was said at half time to turn the game around only admitting, “You could not print what I said but there were plenty of things we had to stop doing and plenty of things we had to start doing. We were looking at a heavy defeat but came out and scored three great goals and I am delighted.”
Scott added that he hopes that the triumph gives the player a taste of glory saying, “Hopefully the players will use this as a springboard to achieve further success at the end of this season.”
The game started in the predicted open fashion and a Leigh Griffiths cross was headed behind for the game's first corner after only 2 minutes, with Inverness also starting brightly and they were inches away from taking the lead in their first attack.
A 40 yard Grant Munro pass released Jonny Hayes on the right and his pass across the goalmouth was begging to be put in, however Richie Foran could only find the side-net.
As the game continued to swing from end to end, goalkeeper Ryan Esson saved a Sean Higgins header and Inverness’ Spanish striker Danni Sanchez rattled the bar after Adam Rooney had cut the ball back from the bye-line.
The goal the game deserved came when Caley Thistle edged ahead on 20 minutes, when Hayes crossed from the right and Rooney darted in to head home from seven yards.
In 32 minutes Sanchez let fly and his goalbound shot was deflected wide, however the second goal was only delayed. Hayes swung over the kick from the right and as Dundee struggled to clear Foran headed towards goal and Nauris Bulvitis stuck out a foot to flick the ball home.
As Inverness looked for a killer goal, Rooney and Golabek went close before the half time whistle blew and Jocky Scott’s side left the field to a chorus of boos from their large travelling support in the 8,000 plus crowd.
However Dundee had their fans back on board 3 minutes into the restart as they reduced the deficit when Harkins fed Richie Hart on the right and his cross was turned in by a combination of the head of striker Higgins and the unfortunate Bulvitis.
The game turned on its head on 52 minutes when Dundee levelled when Esson spilled a shot from Forsyth and Harkins was onto it in a flash to fire the ball home from six yards out.
Dundee’s transformation from cup losers to cup winners was complete 7 minutes from time when Harkins got to the right touchline and cut the ball back to Forsyth who was standing on his own 8 yards out and he sent a first time right foot shot home.
Inverness substitute Dougie Imrie was dismissed less than 2 minutes after coming on as he halted a break from Dundee substitute Pat Clarke who had been on even less time with a crude challenge.
Defeated Highland boss Terry Butcher said, “The first half was the best performance from any team I have ever managed but all we had done was wound a powerful animal and that is how it worked out.”
Crowd – 8,031
Dundee – Douglas, Paton (Benedictis 73), Malone, Kerr, MacKenzie, Lauchlan, Forsyth, Hart, Griffiths (Clarke 90), Higgins (McMenamin 65), Harkins
Unused subs – Cameron, Soutar (Gk)
Inverness Caledonian Thistle – Esson, Tokely, Bulvitis, Munro, Golabek, Proctor, Sanchez (Cox 57), Duncan (Imrie 89), Foran, Rooney (Odhiambo 89), Hayes
Unused subs –Stratford, Allison (Gk)
Referee – Charlie Richmond
*Report produced in partnership with The Scotsman newspaper
