CALDERWOOD'S DONS MAKE UEFA CUP KNOCKOUT STAGES AND HISTORY!

 

(Image taken from BBC)

Back in the 1991/92 season, the Dons faced a Danish side callled Boldklubben 1903 in the UEFA Cup first round. Slight problem, that generation screwed up the 91/92 season generally, the Danes beat them 3-0 on aggregate and went on to merge with Kobenhaven's Boldklub in the summer of 1992! The Reds have never actually beaten Danish opposition though - and any Scottish club north of Glasgow tends to fly under Scandinavia radar.

Well since 1992 FC Copenhagen have effectivly become Denmark's second side with only Brondby having more credibility in Europe. They gave United a headache in the Champions League last season. This season, they were hoping to settle for qualifying from UEFA Cup Group B. Which meant a trip to Pittodrie with the Dons also having an eye on that prize. It was win or bust. 4-4-2. Considine left back, Diamond and Hart central defence. Clark right mid, Nicholson left mid, Aluko and Miller up front.

Well Copenhagen had the first shot on target and left the Dons having to dodge enough bullets to make for grim viewing for their fans. The Reds managed to pick up a free kick but the odd Dons attacks didn't have that much fire in them. On the other side of the pitch Jesper Gronkjaer was causing the Dons enough headaches and coming up to half time I wasn't sure where any Dons win would be coming from, I was just glad that it was still "nae goals" at half time even if all the "fitba" was coming from Denmark!

Well did that change in the second half or what? It started in the 47th minute. Miller fed Smith just outside the box. Smith fired in an amazing lob that the creme de la creme of football would be proud of! Miller set up Smith again in the 55th minute, this time the emerging assasin running throughbefore slotting in his second. Now the Dons had taken over and in the 71st minute Mikel Antonsson put a Miller cross into his own net and with the Danes unable to find the net, in the 83rd minute, one sub Maguire found another, Foster and it was game over! Even the early 90s crew can't claim this sort of European night! An unbeliebably stunning performance.

Elsewhere, Athletico Madrid faced Panathinaikos at the Vicente Calderon Stadium. Pana opened the scoring through Dimitrios Salpigidis. However Athletico managed to turn it round, Luis Garcia grabbing the equaliser before Simo hit a last minute winner to give the bragging rights to the La Liga side. The only things the Dons need to know though is that they finish third in Group B one point ahead of fourth placed FC Copenhagen and despite the odds have made it into the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup!

In other groups. well in Group A Everton faced AZ Alkmaar at the DSB Stadium. Andrew Johnson opened the scoring for Everton only for Graziano Pelle to equalise for the home side. Phil Jagielka retook the lead for the Premiership side, AZ equalised again, this time through Kew Jaliens and then James Vaughn hit the winner for Everton! That allows the Blues to go through on top of the group with Spurs also qualifying by finishing second in Group G and Bolton going through by finishing third in Group F! More about the European scene later.

In the meantime, Aberdeen returned to SPL action. First they faced Rangers at Pittodrie and through the Gers opened the scoring, the Reds equalised just before half time and the game finished 1-1. The Dons then headed to Fir Park where the game looked to be an embarrassing goalless draw till late on. Even then the final score was still 1-1. That left the Dons still in 6th place in the SPL though, now one point ahead of 7th placed Falkirk and the bottom half of the table but six points behind third placed Motherwell and a garunteed UEFA Cup spot.

South of the border, United were in Premiership action. First up was Everton at Old Trafford. Ronaldo opened the scoring with a perfecto lob only for Tim Cahil to equalise for the Blues. The second half was all about the Blues holding out against the United attack and they looked to do so despite fresh legs. If you're going to concede a penalty late on though then you are skating on hin ice. Ronaldo slotted it from the spot allowing us to grab the three points by the skin of our teeth!

Then came Sunderland at the Stadium of Light. What early Sunderland resistance there was crumbled when Rooney opened the scoring. Saha made it two and a Ronaldo free kick made it three just before half time which meant that three points were already in the bag. United were in cruise mode for the second half and the big names were withdrawn but that didn't mean Keano's crew could get anything out of the match and Saha slotted a late penalty to make it 4-0.

Elsewhere, Arsenal beat Spurs 2-1 at the Emirates Stadium to claim north London bragging rights after a goalless first half though a missed Spurs penalty could have changed things. Things definately did change though when the Genners faced Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Arsene Wenger's crew went come with only a 0-0 draw. Which means that United are now top of the Premiership for the first time this season! One point behind Arsenal! As the Yanks say, bring it on!

The Carling Cup quarter finals were also finished off. Spurs beat Man City 2-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium. Arsenal beat Blackburn 3-2 at Ewood Park after extra time and in the tie of the round Chelsea beat Liverpool 2-0 at Stamford Bridge with the Scousers finishing with 10 men after a red card. The semis of that competition look like this: Chelsea play Everton with the first leg at Stamford Bridge(Chelsea will probably win that). Arsenal face Spurs with the first leg at the Emirates Stadium(Arsenal to win that). A rematch of last year's final? Chelsea would probably win it. The Carling Cup is Arvan Grant's best shot at a trophy this season and he knows it!

Back to the European scene and the draw for the first round of the Champions League knockout stages has been made, United face Lyons, first leg at the Stade Gerland. Well the good news is that none of the teams that we could have faced in the first round were actually much of a threat to us. Lyon's the form side in France though, not exactly a dream draw. They're still a grade below United though, we should make the quarters though I wouldn't expect us to win the first leg.

As for the other British sides, well Chelsea face Olympiakos(first leg at the Karaisaki Stadium). The Blues have have themselves the easiest tie out of the Premiership teams, the others haven't been so lucky. Liverpool face Inter(first leg at Anfield). I'll be surprised if the Scousers beat the Serie A leaders. Arsenal face AC Milan(first leg at the Emirates Stadium). A juicy tie and too close to call! Celtic face Barcelona(first leg at Celtic Park). Exit the Celts from there I suspect.

The UEFA Cup 1st knockout round draw has also been made. Aberdeen face Bayern Munich, first leg at Pittodrie. Ouch! That was the worst case scenario for the Dons! Not only do this lot need no introduction but they're also the current Bundesliga leaders suggesting that the bad season they had last year is history. The Dons have some good history of their own vs Bayern from the Fergie era but that won't save them in the year 2008! In all honestly, they'll get caned.

The other British sides face the following fates: Spurs face Slavia Prague(first leg at the Evenza Rosiceho Stadium). Arsenal anhiliated Slavia in the Champions League so I'll give Spurs the benefit of the doubt. Everton face SK Brann(first leg at the Brann Stadium). The Blues should be able to handle this. Bolton face Athletico Madrid(first leg at the Reebok Stadium). Wanderers will get caned. Rangers face Panathinaikos(first leg at Ibrox) Gers should manage that.

And there's more festive Premiership action to go.

 

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