To start with Motherwell in Eire, now this abject humiliation in Holland. Dundee United’s trip to Alkmaar speedily turned the form of situation watched via the cracks of the fingers.
Right after the optimism that followed previous week’s 1- win at Tannadice, Jack Ross’ crew ended up pulled to bits by AZ. A 7-goal hiding – it could and must have been far more.
Welcome to the town of cheese? The Tangerines simply melted absent, the 7- scoreline matching Barcelona’s hammering of Celtic and Malmo’s demolition of Hibs as the worst-ever defeats by Scottish sides in Europe.
Greek forward Vangelis Pavlidis celebrates scoring versus Dundee for AZ Alkmaar
It was an uncomfortable initially 50 percent for Dundee United as they went into the crack down 5-
The website visitors were 5 in advance inside of the first 50 % on one of people nights that will make Scottish football cringe with embarrassment. Sligo was awful all ideal, but this was horrendous regardless of the undoubted pedigree of the Dutch side, and the inquest will now commence into how it went quite so spectacularly incorrect for United in the Europa Conference League.
There was not 1 participant in the browsing crew deserving of go marks. Aziz Behich built his debut at remaining back again and will hope this was a one particular-off. Charlie Mulgrew was torn apart. Goalkeeper Mark Birighitti turned in a general performance that will give him nightmares for the rest of his profession.
Any notion that United could development from this third qualifying-spherical tie after Glenn Middleton’s ponder goal in the to start with leg was speedily extinguished.
AZ were being tidy on the ball and performed some great soccer, but even they must have been stunned at just how uncomplicated it was for them.
Vangelis Pavlidis and Tijjani Reijnders both equally hit doubles in the very first period of time, before Hakon Evjen scored a fifth just before the interval.
They took their foot off the gas right after Dani de Wit scored their sixth just times immediately after the next 50 percent experienced begun, prompting a mass exodus of disgusted United followers.
The Dutch side ran out 7- winners on a chastening night for the Scottish facet in Holland
Mayckel Lahdo scored a seventh after 74 minutes and, if the property facet experienced saved likely, they could have conveniently strike double figures.
Ross’ gentlemen travel to face Hearts on Sunday and there is now a quite unique notion all-around the club from a 7 days in the past.
The weekend defeat to Livingston was disappointing, but how they respond to this hiding has turn out to be important. They can not allow for their campaign to get absent from them in advance of it has even begun.
More than 2,000 United supporters created the limited excursion in excess of the North Sea but only 1,300 had tickets for the fixture. They lapped up the area lifestyle for the duration of the day and, irrespective of reviews of minimal scuffles with home lovers, had been mostly lauded for their conduct.
How rosier the photograph had appeared before on the vacation with a jovial pre-match get together at the Nieuwmarkt region of Amsterdam on Wednesday evening, with a write-up-bash thoroughly clean-up operation by the supporters welcomed by local cops.
For United admirers, it was their to start with European journey considering that their side endured a 5- thrashing at the fingers of Moscow Dynamo 10 yrs back. It was also their initially pay a visit to to Holland considering the fact that Jim McLean’s aspect defeat PSV Eindhoven 2- in 1982. The pre-match converse of next in the footsteps of Wee Jim’s crew on the continental phase was to sound sickeningly hollow.
The travelling enthusiasts ended up dealt with to a pre-match rendition of club anthem Really like is in the Air prior to kick-off but the pleasantries finished as soon as they completed singing John Paul Young’s 1977 anthem.
End result assures Dundee’s European journey is in excess of for this year immediately after challenging night time in Holland
AZ had the first prospect of the evening in the sixth minute when De Wit sent a lower cross into the box towards Pavlidis. The Greek cap could only shoot straight at Birighitti from close variety.
Evjen adopted that up shortly afterwards with an formidable hard work from 25 yards that floated harmlessly about the crossbar. United in fact appeared to be settling very well and a few of deliveries at established-items by Dylan Levitt had the house defence scrambling.
An Evjen shot slid just extensive of the article, but it took an important end from Birighitti to deny the midfielder in the 20th minute, the Australian obtaining down properly to his left to claw the ball away from target. It was clear the hosts ended up starting to go by means of the gears.
Pretty how swiftly became clear in the 21st minute. Pavlidis, who experienced beforehand tasted defeat in Europe to Celtic and Rangers just before the decline at Tannadice, was on hand to end a high-quality move. It was the type of aim normal of Dutch groups, with Reijnders exhibiting wonderful awareness as he despatched a piercing go via the United defence into the route of Milos Kerkez, whose initially time cross was tapped into the net by Pavlidis.
Ian Harkes forced a very good conserve from Hobie Verhulst with a amazing overhead kick as United seemed to restore their lead in the tie but, soon after 31 minutes, they were being two at the rear of and chasing the game.
Around 1,300 Dundee United admirers had tickets but many still left when it was 6- at 46 minutes
There was a diploma of fortune in the way the ball broke to Reijnders from Craig Sibbald’s try to intercept a flowing AZ shift, but there was nothing blessed about the end with the ball traveling into the bottom corner from 20 yards.
Five minutes later, it was three and video game above. Evjen swung in a corner which observed Birighitti attempt to punch obvious and then absolutely miss the ball, permitting Pavlidis to nod in at the back post.
The fourth arrived in the 41st moment. Pantelis Hatzdiakos was afforded far far too considerably time in the box and his cutback was dispatched by Reijnders for his next. By half-time, it was five and Birighitti could only seem on as Evjen lashed the ball into the top rated corner from the edge of the box.
The next 50 % was 50 seconds old when Se Wit scored the sixth. The United followers who headed out the stadium had the right thought, as they skipped the ignominy of Lahdo scoring the seventh to consign the visitors to a historic defeat.