Scorer Djebbour celebrates with Lymperopoulos Nikolaos
Dundee United face an uphill task to stay in the Europa League after a play-off first-leg home defeat at the hands of AEK Athens.
The Greek side took an 11th-minute lead when Rafik Djebbour converted Ignacio Scocco's teasing cross.
And AEK could have added to their lead with Pereira Leonardo twice going close after the break.
United's best chance fell to Jon Daly but the striker could not hit the target after finding space in the box.
United were dealt a blow in just ten minutes when they went behind to a goal from frontman Djebbour.
Scocco worked his way into the United box on the left and fired in a low cross for the Greek striker to lash into the net from four yards.
It was a bitter blow to United, who, in front of a packed Tannadice, could not find their usual passing fluency.
United created two half chances in the opening twenty two minutes but headers from Daly and Kenneth were well wide of the target.
Pernis in the United goal only had one real save to make and that was an easy low take from a Djebbour shot from fourteen yards.
In the second half United rallied and had better territorial possession but the Greek were always dangerous and tested Pernis with good long range efforts from Leonardo and Lyberopoulos. The Slovak dealt with them well, although the first effort slipped past him to nudge the post before he held it.
In between times, Leonardo should have scored in 56 minutes but headed straight at the Utd keeper from ten yards.
United got a second wind towards the end of the game and with seven minutes of time left Daly on the half turn snatched at a chance from twelve yards but dragged the ball wide.
Just minutes before that AEK skipper Kafes raced through on to a lobbed ball but couldn't connect and a chance to add to the visitors lead was squandered.
Into stoppage time Prince Buaben found himself in room on the left of the box but his first touch let him down and the ball rolled behind the AEK goal.
United now face a daunting trip to the Olympic stadium in Athens in seven days time.
Live text and stats
Thursday, 19 August 2010
Europa Lge qualifying
Home Team
Score
Away Team
Time
Dundee Utd
0-1
AEK Athens
FT
(HT 0-1)
Djebbour 11
Dundee Utd
01 Pernis
02 Dillon
03 Dixon
18 Kenneth yellow card
23 Watson
06 Conway yellow card
08 Robertson (Cadamarteri 81)
15 Buaben yellow card
16 Gomis
09 Daly
25 Goodwillie
Substitutes
13 Banks,
05 Dods,
17 Douglas,
10 Cadamarteri,
20 Shala,
21 Damian Casalinuovo,
27 Russell
AEK Athens
23 Sebastian Saja
04 Manolas
08 Jahic
55 Dellas yellow card
01 Kafes
09 Leonardo (Nathan Burns 71)
14 Makos yellow card
19 Lagos
10 Djebbour (Diop 81)
32 Scocco yellow card (Eder Luis 89)
33 Liberopoulos yellow card
Substitutes
22 Arampatzis,
15 Karabelas,
31 Georgeas,
21 Diop,
20 Eder Luis,
24 Nathan Burns,
28 Blanco
Ref: StrahonjaAtt: 12,116
DUNDEE UTD
AEK ATHENS
Possession
Dundee Utd44%
AEK Athens56%
Attempts on target
Dundee Utd3
AEK Athens7
Attempts off target
Dundee Utd5
AEK Athens5
Corners
Dundee Utd4
AEK Athens0
Fouls
Dundee Utd7
AEK Athens12
Final Result
94:21 The game kicks-off.
Full Time
90:00+1:23 Free kick taken by Pantelis Kafes. Papa Bouba Diop produces a right-footed shot from just outside the box that goes wide right of the target.
90:00+1:23 Booking Garry Kenneth receives a caution for unsporting behaviour.
90:00+1:17 Free kick awarded for a foul by Garry Kenneth on Pantelis Kafes.
90:00 The referee signals the end of the game.
88:39 Substitution De Souza Eder Luis on for Ignacio Scocco.
88:11 Centre by Keith Watson, clearance by Traianos Dellas.
86:26 A cross is delivered by Paul Dixon.
85:39 Garry Kenneth takes a shot. Diego Sebastian Saja makes a save.
84:43 Corner from the right by-line taken by Paul Dixon, save by Diego Sebastian Saja.
84:13 Centre by Garry Kenneth, Grigoris Makos gets a block in.
83:45 The ball is sent over by Sean Dillon, clearance by Traianos Dellas.
83:06 Traianos Dellas restarts play with the free kick.
83:06 Booking Traianos Dellas booked.
82:48 Morgaro Gomis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Papa Bouba Diop.
82:13 Jon Daly has an effort at goal from just inside the box that misses to the right of the target.
81:55 Keith Watson crosses the ball, blocked by Kostas Manolas.
80:24 Substitution Papa Bouba Diop comes on in place of Rafik Djebbour.
80:24 Substitution Danny Cadamarteri joins the action as a substitute, replacing Scott Robertson.
80:24 A cross is delivered by Ignacio Scocco.
79:56 The ball is crossed by Morgaro Gomis, Pantelis Kafes manages to make a clearance.
77:51 Pantelis Kafes takes a shot from inside the box clearing the bar.
74:32 Nikos Liberopoulos takes a shot. Dusan Pernis makes a save.
73:16 Paul Dixon delivers the ball from the free kick left-footed from left wing, clearance made by Traianos Dellas. Paul Dixon takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line played to the near post, save made by Diego Sebastian Saja.
73:16 Booking Grigoris Makos receives a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
73:11 Free kick awarded for a foul by Grigoris Makos on David Goodwillie.
72:10 Foul by Morgaro Gomis on Nikos Liberopoulos, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Traianos Dellas.
70:11 Substitution Nathan Burns on for Pereira Leonardo.
67:49 Free kick awarded for an unfair challenge on Traianos Dellas by Keith Watson. Direct free kick taken by Diego Sebastian Saja.
67:24 A cross is delivered by Paul Dixon, Ignacio Scocco manages to make a clearance.
65:47 Keith Watson delivers the ball, Pantelis Kafes makes a clearance.
61:54 Effort on goal by Keith Watson from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
60:03 Sean Dillon takes a shot. Blocked by Traianos Dellas.
55:56 Panagiotis Lagos produces a cross, Pereira Leonardo takes a shot. Save by Dusan Pernis.
54:23 The ball is crossed by Craig Conway, clearance made by Traianos Dellas.
53:33 Craig Conway crosses the ball, save made by Diego Sebastian Saja.
52:26 Craig Conway takes a shot. Grigoris Makos gets a block in.
51:58 Unfair challenge on Prince Buaben by Nikos Liberopoulos results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Paul Dixon.
49:35 Grigoris Makos restarts play with the free kick.
49:35 Booking Prince Buaben goes into the book.
49:02 Sanel Jahic concedes a free kick for a foul on Morgaro Gomis. Free kick crossed left-footed by Paul Dixon, Ignacio Scocco fouled by Prince Buaben, the ref awards a free kick.
45:29 Unfair challenge on Paul Dixon by Pereira Leonardo results in a free kick. Paul Dixon takes the free kick.
45:01 The second half begins.
Half Time
45:00 The players leave the pitch at half time.
44:49 Foul by Grigoris Makos on David Goodwillie, free kick awarded. Free kick crossed right-footed by Craig Conway from left channel.
44:20 Free kick awarded for a foul by Scott Robertson on Panagiotis Lagos. Direct free kick taken by Traianos Dellas.
43:12 Pantelis Kafes takes a shot. Garry Kenneth gets a block in.
41:04 The free kick is swung in right-footed by Craig Conway, clearance made by Pantelis Kafes.
41:04 Booking Nikos Liberopoulos goes into the book for unsporting behaviour.
40:19 Nikos Liberopoulos challenges Craig Conway unfairly and gives away a free kick. Morgaro Gomis takes the direct free kick. Unfair challenge on Craig Conway by Nikos Liberopoulos results in a free kick.
37:47 Sanel Jahic produces a cross.
37:00 Pereira Leonardo delivers the ball, clearance by Paul Dixon.
36:04 Craig Conway produces a cross, Sanel Jahic gets a block in.
35:13 Effort on goal by Grigoris Makos from just outside the area goes harmlessly over the target.
33:32 The ball is crossed by Grigoris Makos.
30:58 Free kick crossed by Paul Dixon, Diego Sebastian Saja makes a save.
30:58 Booking Ignacio Scocco shown a yellow card.
30:54 Ignacio Scocco challenges Craig Conway unfairly and gives away a free kick.
30:23 Pereira Leonardo produces a right-footed shot from outside the penalty area and misses left.
28:50 Craig Conway takes a corner.
21:37 Sanel Jahic gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Craig Conway. Craig Conway delivers the ball from the free kick right-footed from left wing, clearance by Traianos Dellas. Corner taken right-footed by Craig Conway, Headed effort from deep inside the area by Garry Kenneth misses to the left of the goal.
20:24 Jon Daly has an effort at goal from 35 yards and went wide left of the net.
19:23 Morgaro Gomis gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Grigoris Makos. Direct free kick taken by Grigoris Makos.
18:07 Nikos Liberopoulos concedes a free kick for a foul on Scott Robertson. Paul Dixon restarts play with the free kick.
Correction - 17:25 Craig Conway handles the ball and concedes a free kick. Diego Sebastian Saja takes the free kick.
17:25 Booking The referee cautions Craig Conway for unsporting behaviour.
17:25 Handball decision goes against Craig Conway. Indirect free kick taken by Diego Sebastian Saja.
13:52 Centre by David Goodwillie, Headed effort from deep inside the penalty area by Jon Daly goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
13:21 Rafik Djebbour takes a shot. Save made by Dusan Pernis.
12:41 Ignacio Scocco takes a shot. Blocked by Garry Kenneth.
10:44 The assist for the goal came from Ignacio Scocco.
10:44 GOAL - Rafik Djebbour:Dundee Utd 0 - 1 AEK Athens Rafik Djebbour grabs a goal from close in to the top right corner of the goal. Dundee Utd 0-1 AEK Athens.
10:41 The ball is delivered by Ignacio Scocco,
10:19 Ignacio Scocco takes a shot. Sean Dillon gets a block in.
8:51 The ball is swung over by Pereira Leonardo, Pantelis Kafes produces a mishit right-footed shot from 6 yards. Save by Dusan Pernis.
6:08 Ignacio Scocco challenges Morgaro Gomis unfairly and gives away a free kick. Garry Kenneth restarts play with the free kick.
5:49 The ball is crossed by Traianos Dellas, save by Dusan Pernis.
4:56 Unfair challenge on Prince Buaben by Grigoris Makos results in a free kick. Sean Dillon takes the direct free kick.
4:23 Panagiotis Lagos delivers the ball, Paul Dixon makes a clearance.
Live text and data provided by The Press Association.
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