Latest news with #Sapsford
STV News
5 days ago
- Sport
- STV News
Dundee United match-winner Sapsford aims to finish the job in Luxembourg
Zac Sapsford's debut goal gave Dundee United a narrow UEFA Conference League qualifying win over UNA Strassen and now the Australian is looking to complete the task in Luxembourg. A new-look United side had found their opponents a troublesome obstacle in the first half of their second qualifying-round clash at Tannadice. But Sapsford, playing his first competitive game since signing from Western Sydney Wanderers, fired in from 25 yards in the 47th minute to give Jim Goodwin's side a 1-0 advantage going into the second leg next week. Sapsford said: 'Good game. Tough, to be fair. We expected that. We're disappointed we didn't make it two, three, four, going to Luxembourg, but I think 1-0, it's not too bad, and we can build on that and go to Luxembourg and hopefully finish the job. 'I'm a striker. I love scoring goals and to get a winner is obviously a great feeling, but I know there's still more work to do in Luxembourg. 'We created some really good chances. If we take those, as I said, we'd probably score two, three, maybe even four. 'We didn't underestimate them, we knew they'd be a great opponent and we just need to make sure we get the job done in Luxembourg.' Sapsford relished his first appearance for the Terrors in front of a packed Tannadice. He said: 'It was incredible. Everyone told me it's amazing and really, they showed up and it was great. I had goosebumps walking out, hearing the fans scream. I've honestly never heard a stadium like that. It's crazy. 'I'm loving it. It's a new experience for me. I'm from Australia, so it's completely different. I know it gets colder, so I'm ready for that. But, I'm loving it, so it's good.' Goodwin has recruited 11 new players into his squad – seven started against UNA Strassen – and Sapsford admits it will take time to settle. He said: 'It's not easy, but I think we're doing really well. It's 11 new players, it's tough for any manager and players to get used to each other. But I think we're doing it really well and these games are definitely helping. 'We had a good pre-season to work on the way we wanted to play and I think we're bringing that out every week more and more, so that's good. 'We learned a bit (on Thursday). That's what we're going to work on during this week, preparing for the game next Thursday. So we'll do our work and we'll be ready.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Utd not surprised by Strassen
Craig Sibbald insists Dundee United were not surprised by the quality of UNA Strassen after they edged to a 1-0 win over their visitors from Luxembourg in the first leg of their Conference League second qualifying round Sapsford's goal is all that separates the sides going into next Thursday's second leg in Differdange. And Sibbald says United will face another tricky test."We knew it would be tough," he told BBC Sport Scotland."We'd watched them all week and expected a fast start from them and they didn't disappoint."It would have been nice to get the second goal, and we need to be more clinical, but we're a new team."
BBC News
6 days ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Matchwinner Zac Sapsford had 'goosebumps' on Dundee Utd debut
'I had goosebumps... I've never heard a stadium like that' Image source, SNS Author, Thomas Duncan Role, BBC Sport Scotland at Tannadice 1 hour ago Striker Zac Sapsford says it was "a great feeling" to score the winning goal against UNA Strassen on his Dundee United debut at an "incredible" Tannadice. The Australian finished sharply two minutes after the break to clinch victory in the Conference League second qualifying round first leg. Sapsford, who arrived on a three-year deal from Western Sydney Wanderers this summer, revealed his mum was over from Australia to watch his debut strike. "It was a good game. A tough game, to be fair," Sapsford said. "We're disappointed we didn't make it two, three, or four heading to Luxembourg. 1-0 isn't too bad so we can hopefully go there and finish the job. "I'm a striker, I love scoring goals and go get a winner is a great feeling but there's more work to do in Luxembourg. "It was incredible [Tannadice]. Everyone told me it's amazing. I had goosebumps walking out hearing the fans scream.
South Wales Guardian
6 days ago
- Sport
- South Wales Guardian
Zac Sapsford gives Dundee United advantage in Conference League opener
In Jim Goodwin's first venture into Europe as boss, his side found the Luxembourg minnows no easy opponent in the first half of their second qualifying round clash. However, attacker Sapsford, one of seven new faces in the home line-up, fired in from outside the box in the 47th minute and in the end it was enough to make the difference. United's appearance in Europe was reward for their fourth-placed finish last season and albeit their lead is slender, they will hope they have enough to progress in the return game next week. Goodwin's squad had been bolstered by 11 new players and Yevhen Kucherenko, Bert Esselink, Krisztian Keresztes, Sapsford, Iurie Iovu, Isaac Pappoe and Ivan Dolcek all started and, significantly, there were no Scots in the team. Wing-back Will Ferry captained the Taysiders in the absence of injured defender Ross Graham, recently appointed skipper. There was healthy crowd inside Tannadice which created a terrific atmosphere, albeit there was hush in the eighth minute when UNA Strassen, who finished 18 points behind champions FC Differdange 03 in their domestic league, almost stole the lead. Daryl Myre escaped free of the home defence down the left and Kucherenko was lobbed as he raced out of his goal but the ball went wide of the far post. United should have scored when Sapsford, at the edge of the box, cleverly played in Vicko Sevelj who only had Ozcan to beat but his drive was saved by the diving keeper and the ball flew to safety, with Sevelj minutes later sending a long-distance effort just past the post. As the Tannadide men stepped up the pressure, Ozcan made a fine save from a Keresztes header following a corner but half time arrived goalless. However, the home side got the breakthrough two minutes into the second half when Australian striker Sapsford, signed from Western Sydney Wanderers, took a pass from Dolcek, brilliantly turned his defender 25 yards from goal and drilled a low shot past Ozcan. It was exactly the boost the Taysiders needed and they almost got a second from a Keresztes header, Ozcan acrobatically turning the ball over for a corner that came to nothing. In the 72nd minute Ozcan pushed an angled-drive a from substitute Owen Stirton on to the post and behind for a corner but again United failed to capitalise. The visitors sensed there might be something for them in the game going into the final stages and every entry into the United box had the home fans on edge, albeit Tannadice substitute Panutche Camara had a drive cleared away from goal by one of the many white-shirted defenders blocking the goal. At the other end, in added time, United keeper Kucherenko had to save from Matheus De Souza, otherwise the outcome would have been very different.
North Wales Chronicle
6 days ago
- Sport
- North Wales Chronicle
Zac Sapsford gives Dundee United advantage in Conference League opener
In Jim Goodwin's first venture into Europe as boss, his side found the Luxembourg minnows no easy opponent in the first half of their second qualifying round clash. However, attacker Sapsford, one of seven new faces in the home line-up, fired in from outside the box in the 47th minute and in the end it was enough to make the difference. United's appearance in Europe was reward for their fourth-placed finish last season and albeit their lead is slender, they will hope they have enough to progress in the return game next week. Goodwin's squad had been bolstered by 11 new players and Yevhen Kucherenko, Bert Esselink, Krisztian Keresztes, Sapsford, Iurie Iovu, Isaac Pappoe and Ivan Dolcek all started and, significantly, there were no Scots in the team. Wing-back Will Ferry captained the Taysiders in the absence of injured defender Ross Graham, recently appointed skipper. There was healthy crowd inside Tannadice which created a terrific atmosphere, albeit there was hush in the eighth minute when UNA Strassen, who finished 18 points behind champions FC Differdange 03 in their domestic league, almost stole the lead. Daryl Myre escaped free of the home defence down the left and Kucherenko was lobbed as he raced out of his goal but the ball went wide of the far post. United should have scored when Sapsford, at the edge of the box, cleverly played in Vicko Sevelj who only had Ozcan to beat but his drive was saved by the diving keeper and the ball flew to safety, with Sevelj minutes later sending a long-distance effort just past the post. As the Tannadide men stepped up the pressure, Ozcan made a fine save from a Keresztes header following a corner but half time arrived goalless. However, the home side got the breakthrough two minutes into the second half when Australian striker Sapsford, signed from Western Sydney Wanderers, took a pass from Dolcek, brilliantly turned his defender 25 yards from goal and drilled a low shot past Ozcan. It was exactly the boost the Taysiders needed and they almost got a second from a Keresztes header, Ozcan acrobatically turning the ball over for a corner that came to nothing. In the 72nd minute Ozcan pushed an angled-drive a from substitute Owen Stirton on to the post and behind for a corner but again United failed to capitalise. The visitors sensed there might be something for them in the game going into the final stages and every entry into the United box had the home fans on edge, albeit Tannadice substitute Panutche Camara had a drive cleared away from goal by one of the many white-shirted defenders blocking the goal. At the other end, in added time, United keeper Kucherenko had to save from Matheus De Souza, otherwise the outcome would have been very different.
